Report of the Shell Fish Commission of Maryland

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THIRD REPORT

OF THE

SHELL FISH COMMISSION

OF

MARYLAND _

PRESS OF
GEORGE W. KING PRINTING COMPANY
A 31 S. HOWARD STREET
BALTIMORE, MD.

SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS.
WaA_tTER J. MITCHELL, Chairman, La Plata.

CASWELL GRAVE, Secretary, Baltimore.

(Johns Hopkins University. )

BENJAMIN K. GREEN, Treasurer, Westover.

CHitr 'CEERK:

J. D. GarpIner, Bryantown.

ASSISTANT CLERKS.
SAMUEL A. Harper, St. Michaels.

DANIEL H. CARROLL, OF P., Bel Air.

HYDROGRAPHIC ENGINEER.

SWEPSON EARLE, Centreville.

REPORT.

BattimorE, Mp., December 31, I910.

To His Excellency Austin L. Crothers, Governor of the State of
Maryland, and Members of the General Assembly of Maryland

of 1912.

In accordance with the requirements of Section 119 of Chapter
711 of the Acts of 1906, the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners
respectfully submits its third report.

WALTER J. MITCHELL, Chairman.
CASWELL GRAVE, Secretary.

BENJAMIN K. GREEN, Treasurer.

TABLE OF CONTEN'LS.

Page.

PRECLE LAG tens Uo mraitiiiteea ete eae ee eo earn ykecebidens eta oi eN aL tnt tes ese) Ae SY gS) hl ad 4
Introduction—

Bublications oR eporistandyOWAarts cs sae cdc weds Sulake iene aise eek 1

Co-Operation: U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, U. S. Bureau of Fish-
eries, State Fishery Force, County Commissioners, Hon. John Gill,
And sb altinoren Cleve pLressia cits, ses selects oe uate « Hake kit ainie Sieraee

Lhe Haman Oyster Culture Law: Object, Survey..............0.-ceceee

Meiariion Gia Natal OWSECE AT i ares ne sce os ols Sec ossne bre DG slo etlers wieesletbe 3 10
Natural Bar Not Defined, Diversity of Opinion, The Goldsbor-
ough definition, Application of Definition.
Factors of the Definition: The “Livelihood” Factor, Average
Price of Oysters, Average Number of Oysters per Bushel, Length of
Oyster Season, The Unit of Tonging Operations, Area of Bottom
Covered by Oystermen, Minimum Number Oysters per Square Yard
Required to Yield Livelihood.

Methods of Oyster Survey—

MMO LIMAL OMe HMEEMIS MEME axneesnectr. © 2 ko eoveeste aes artes akc 2 oak Sah ae cae 15

st OT NY OOO KST OT Rea Os TS ana y are o Elc ita Che RUMP eRe etna et ee eet LO ea 15
Boats, Houseboat “Oyster,” Instruments.

OR SANIZ AIO MES Ne onih oe oat he Ne etalon nein Hi eiieh cee ea icemen es ds 18

Wet OO Sips ie ciakeevenses cick Ag aloe ch Goce Brot a cited Has eS ty EL Fe Oe NE Bet ee te Cea ok 18

Lines of Soundings, Use of Chain-Wire Apparatus, Location
on Charts of Position at Which Observations Taken, Records,
Selection of Examination Stations.

Report of Surveys and Hxaminations of Oyster Grounds—
GT ie Une eee uae ae MRR eel uy Ue TGS Sag 26

Plan of Report, Distinguishing Features of Maryland Oyster

Survey, Names of Practical Oystermen Employed to Conduct

Examinations; Observations on: Rate of Flow of Currents,

Density of Water, Food Value of Water; Plan for Estimating

Condition of Oyster Grounds, Statistics Showing Number of

Licenses Issued to Oystermen.

peake Bay, Effects of Freshets on Oysters as Indicated by Per
Cent. of Dead Oyster (“boxes”) on the Bars, Statistical Table.

on SLL MSU 0 Roby Pe ea at COSTE TO A 34
Introduction, Description of Results and Conclusions from Work
in Chester River, Lankfords Bay, Grays Inn Creek, East Neck Bay,
Swan Creek and Chesapeake Bay; Statistical Tables.

the Upper Bay “Lumps” Problem and the Cull Law..................... 48
Introduction; The Case as Reported; Public Attitude Toward
Violations of the Cull Law ; The Case as Developed by the Survey ;
Statistical Table; Discussion; A Proposed Solution.

6 Table of Contents.

Queen Anne’s™ County 222 4.15 (.a0s cine oterate ol mnialieintatnyas« ab) pheolidioinie wlereielaivigie/= = ... 54
Introduction; Description of Results and Conclusions from Work
in the Wye Rivers, Miles River, Eastern Bay, Prospect Bay and
Kent Island Narrows; Crab Alley Bay, Cox Creek, Chester River,
Corsica River and Chesapeake Bay; Statistical Tables.

Statement of Field and Office Work—

Anchorage of the Houseboat “Oyster”... ...cc.cs cece ner eesnceccns 74

Tabulated Statement of Operations of Wield Party.................. 75
Statistics of Results of Combined Operations of Federal Government

PATO Woh 2b CRMC Hin i Hn Onan HPS SIM GRD OOOO UO Ont ODGAchpad po 77

Report of Leasing Operations... 2. o6 ccc ce oo steele ewe ete e eee eee 78

General Statement; Blank Forms of Application for a Lease;
Statistical Tables Showing the Number of Applications for Lease
to Oyster Lands Received, the Number of Leases Granted, the
Number of Oyster Lot Holders in Arrears with Rent, the Number
of Leases Canceled, the Number of Leases Now in Force and the
Names and Addresess of All Lessees and the Number of Acres of
Land Held by Hach.

TROCOMMMENEL ALOIS merrier w ela ose heireil owe slices iota olfelteracasyetreisWat etre lellonen ei elfoleieh eden amelcustte 97
Foreword—
Amendments of Fundamental Importance to Oyster Planters:
1. Providing for Increase in Area of Lots Which May Be
Leased.
2. Providing for Privilege of Dredging on Leased Lots.
3. Providing for Privilege of Securing Seed Oysters.
Discussion—
Letter of Approval from Dr. H. F. Moore.
Amendment of Fundamental Importance to the State.
4. Providing for Collection of Rents.
Amendments Desirable, but Not Funadmental.
5. Extension of Period for PaymentofOne-Dollar Rentals.
6. Respecting Non-Residents of the State.
7. Preventing Oyster Planting in Water Contaminated by
Sewage.

MIN ANCA NtaALeMleMts aun oi aeiersietcione estleteticnetoneiclerctestevetetatelohetarchehe 6c ocpiclaceeer a cael 109
For the Year Ending September 30, 1909 (reprinted).
For the Year Ending September 30, 1910.

AD CNG EX Osean sia ohaderene rellcyel eleva lars opeueteneliotatal eoleleie Nol ol slaloslatisrehe te) eV aisle ates totems 111
J. Text of the Haman Oyster Culture Law.
II. Opinions Rendered by Hor. Thomas H. Robinson, Counsel to
the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, Concerning—
1. Jurisdiction.
2. Private Ownership and Riparian Rights.
Ill. Rights of Lot-Holders to Take Up Planted Oysters.
IV. An Act Setting Aside Clam Rocks in Pocomoke Sound.
Vv. An Act Repealing Calvert County Cultivation Law.
VI. An Act Increasing the Tax Upon Oysters Sold Within the State
and Creating Therefrom a Natural Oyster Bed Reshelling
Fund.

INTRODUCTION.

PUBLICATIONS.

This report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners is intended
to embrace an account of all work carried or by the Commission
during the year ending December 31, 1909, and a statement of all
receipts and disbursements by the Commission during the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1910.

_ It contains descriptions of the methods and results of the surveys
and examinations of the oyster grounds of Baltimore, Kent and
Queen Anne’s counties; a discussion of the problem of the applica-
tion of the Cull law to areas overstocked with small oysters, in the
light of the results of the survey of the upper section of the Bay,
generally known as “The Lumps;” statements regarding the opening
of the bottoms available for lease for oyster culture in Worcester
and Calvert counties; lists of the names of citizens who have leased
lots from the State for the purposes of oyster culture, with state-
ments of the total area which has been leased under the Haman
Oyster Culture Law, and of the number of lots on which rents are
in arrears; and recommendations for such changes in the law as the
Shell Fish Commission believes to be essential to the success of
oyster culture in Maryland.

In an appendix to the report, the text of the Haman Oyster Cul-
ture Law is reprinted, together with that of other Acts of the Gen-
eral Assembly pertaining to Oyster Culture or to the work of the
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. The report also contains a
reprint of the statement of the receipts and disbursements of the
Commission during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1909.

During the year 1909 Captain C. C. Yates, for the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey, prepared and issued two publications,*
each consisting of a set of charts and a report.

The first was filed in the office of the Commission at Annapolis
and with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Worcester County, July
23, 1909, and contains all information necessary to make a perma-

* * These publications may be secured by applying to the Superintendent of the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C.

8 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

nent record of the work of the Commission and the Federal Govy-
ernment in Worcester County for all future requirements of the
courts. The charts, three in number, show all legal bounaries of the
oyster bars within the adopted boundaries of the waters opened for
leasing with Worcester County, and the location of all landmarks
used as a foundation for the delineation of these various boundaries.
The report gives technical and legal descriptions of all oyster bar
and other boundaries, and descriptions of all landmarks shown on °
the charts. .

The second publication consists of a set of five charts and a
technical report and forms a permanent record, similar in every way
to that for Worcester County, of the work of the Commission and
the Federal Government in Calvert County. It was filed in the office
of the Commission in Annapolis and in the office of the Clerk of the
Circuit Court fer Calvert County, on December 14, 1909.

CO-OPERATION.

The Commission has continued to receive the same hearty co-
operation in its field work from the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Sur-
vey, the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, the State Fishery Force, and
Boards of County Commissioners which it has hitherto received.
A full statement of the extent of this co-operation and the Acts
authorizing it may be found in the First Report of the Shell Fish
Commission, pages 17 to 26. A statement concerning the assistance
rendered by the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Bureau of Fish-
eries may be found also in the reports published by the Coast and
Geodetic Survey, entitled “Survey of Oyster Bars.”

The names of the men appointed by the boards of County Com-
missioners to accompany the Chief Engineer during the survey of
their respective counties and point out the approximate location of
the oyster bars and select the stations on each ground at which
examinations are made, are: Wilson F. Stevens, Bengies, Md.,
for Baltimore County; Samuel Collier, Rock Hall, Md, for Kent
County; Charles W. Hopkins, Stevensville, for Queen Anne's
County. From these gentlemen the Commission has received much
information and help beyond that contemplated in the Act provid-
ing for their services, and it gladly acknowledges its appreciation of
this and many courtesies.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 9

To Hon. John Gill, the Commission desires to express its thanks
for the attention he has given to the work of securing the continued
co-operation of the Federal Government with the Maryland Shell
Fish Commission in making the survey of the natural oyster
grounds. Without the assistance of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic
Survey and the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries it would be well nigh im-
possible to complete the survey within a reasonable period along the
lines on which the work was begun.

To the daily press of Baltimore City the Commission hereby ex-
presses its obligation for the encouragement and assistance the cause
of oyster culture has received through the many editorials and re-
ports, pertaining to the subject and to the preliminary survey work,
which have appeared in its columns. Knowing that a general inter-
est in oyster culture and a knowledge of the conditions under which
oyster culture may be successfully carried on. is of prime necessity
for the work of perfecting the scheme of legislation such as has been
inaugurated by the Sate. of Maryland hae the development of the
ent possibilities of the barren bottoms of her tide waters, the
Commission takes this opportunity to solicit the continued support
of the press for the law, and especially the advocacy of such amend-
ments to the law as are clearly shown by experience to be necessar y
to its ultimate success.

Dit sav AN OYSTER CULTURE lA W.
Sey Ee:

The Legislature in placing Chapter 711 of the Acts of 1906, bet-
ter known as the Haman Oyster Culture Law, upon the statute
books of Maryland, had a two-fold object in view:

. To encourage an industry in oyster culture upon the barren
ee beneath the tidewaters of the State.
. To prevent the leasing of natural oyster bars for the purpose

of ‘Se culture.
SURVEY.

To make the leasing of barren bottoms possible and the leasing of
natural bars impossible, provision was made for a survey of the
natural bars for the purpose of accurately locating and marking the
same. It was definitely provided that no barren bottoms should be

10 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

leased in any part of the State until the natural bars of that region
had been surveyed, charted and marked with buoys.

DEFINITION OF A NATURAL OYSTER BAR.

NATURAL BAR NOT DEFINED.

The Shell Fish Commission is instructed by Section 90 of the
Haman Oyster Culture Law to exercise its judgment liberally in
favor of the natural bars when surveying, chartering and buoying
the same, but other than this the Commission is uninstructed in this
important matter. The responsibility of defining a natural bar is
placed upon the Commission.

DIVERSITY OF OPINION.

No definition of a natural oyster bar could be formulated by any
man or body of men which would meet with the approval of all the
parties concerned. Oystermen, as a rule, hold that all bottoms
where oysters grow or have grown naturally, even though now
practically barren of oysters should be considered natural bars.
Other citzens of the State who are not directly interested in the
oyster business, but interested in the oyster industry from the stand-
point of revenue, hold, as a rule, that no bottoms should be excluded
from leasing for oyster culture which, by methods known to oyster
culturalists, may be made to yield a greater number of oysters than
they now produce.

It should be evident to every one that neither of these definitions
could be adopted by the Commission as a basis for determining
which of the grounds surveyed are natural bars.

THE GOLDSBOROUGH DEFINITION.

The definition of a natural oyster bar which very nearly ap-
proaches a reasonable and satisfactory compromise between the
views of the subject held by oystermen on one hand and by oyster
culturalisis on the other is that contained in an opinion rendered by
Judge Chas. F. Goldsborough in the Circuit Court for Dorchester
County in the July term, 1881, in the case of William T. Windsor
and George R. Todd vs. Job T. Moore. |

This definition has been adopted by the Shell Fish Commission
as the basis for the determination of the status of the various oyster
bottoms surveyed, and is as follows:

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. II

“What then is a natural bar or bed of oysters? It would be a palpable
absurdity for the State to attempt to promote the propagation and growth of
oysters and to encourage its citizens, by grant of land, to engage in their culture,
if the lands authorized to be taken up were only those upon which oysters do
not and cannot be made to grow. That there may be lands covered by water in
the State where no oysters can be found, but where, if planted, they could be
cultivated successfully, may be possible, but, if so, I imagine that their extent
must be too limited for them to be of much practical, general advantage for the
purposes of such a law as the one under discussion; but there are thousands of
acres of hard and shifting sands where oysters not only are not found, but
where it would be folly to plant them; and these latter it can not be supposed
that the State intended to offer to give away, for the simple reason that the
State could not help knowing that nobody would have them.

“Upon the other hand there are large and numerous tracts where oysters of
natural growth may be found in moderate numbers, but not in quantities suffi-
cient to make it profitable to catch them; and yet where oysters may be success-
fully planted and propagated. In my opinion, these can not be galled natural
bars or beds of oysters, within the meaning of the Act of Assembly, and it is
just such lands as these that the State meant to allow to be taken up under the
provisions of the above-mentioned section of the Act.

“But there is still another class of lands where oysters grow naturally and in
large quantities, and to which the public are now and have been for many years
in the habit of resorting with a view to earning a livelihood by eatching this
natural growth; and here, I think, is the true test of the whole question. Land
cannot be said to be a natural oyster bar or bed merely because oysters are scat-
tered here and there upon it, and because if planted they will readily live and
thrive there; but whenever the natural growth is so thick and abundant that
the public resort to it for a livelihood, it is a natural oyster bar or bed, and
comes within the above-quoted restriction in the law, and cannot be located
or appropriated by any individual.”

APPLICATION OF DEFINITION. <

Before this definition may be of use in determining, accurately
and scientifically, the status of an oyster ground, its central idea,
“livelihood,” must be expanded into accurately determinable factors
and these factors must be combined into a practical scheme for in-
vestigating the condition of the grounds under consideration.

Stated briefly, a livelihood is represented by a sum of money ob-
tained from the sale, at a fixed price, of a certain quantity of oys-
ters gathered in a given time from an allotted area of ground.

Knowing the value of these factors it becomes possible to calcu-

late the number of oysters an oyster ground must produce per acre
or per square yard in order that oystermen may secure a liveliho. d
by working upon it.
_ The factors into which the Commission resolved the livelihood
problem; the value assigned to each factor and an outline of the
scheme devised for use in examining oyster ground and applying the
definition to the grounds examined, are given below.

12 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Comnussioners.

For a detailed account of the investigations carried on to deter-
mine the value of each of the above factors and to develop methods
of securing the information needed concerning the condition of
oyster bottoms, reference should be made to the First Report of the
Shell Fish Commission, pages 32 to 69.

MinimumiMivelthoods or ANonomvamt esr; «+ spercssne sistas ayes iene Ste a eee $ 277.75
Minimum Livellnood Of) ROW oer sige c cctele co cese cheaters ices eosnaloe ie aeael eenen en 1,836.25
Average prices received for oysters per bushel................... $ .60 to $1.00

Minimum livelihood expressed in bushels of oysters:

Price. ‘Tongmen. Dredgers.
$ .60 462 bushels. 3,066 bushels.
te 370 bushels. 2,448 bushels.
1.00 278 bushels. 1,836 bushels.
Number of marketable oysters; per bushels sec cc. shckecgeysce cde see -Paicuclonersl vessels 329

Minimum livelihood expressed in number of marketable oysters:

Price. Tongmen. Dredgers.
§ .60 151,998 oysters. 1,008,714 oysters.
eles 121,730 oysters. 805,392 oysters.
1.00 91,462 oysters. 604,044 oysters.
Number actual working days in tonging season...............-5...0..-06. 100
Number, actialy working @aysiin redoing Sea sSomyjen scustsie susie cece) sleiereiteenens 58
Wit tom tonsinesop CratlOMspy.tnasmrnerrca venom etek ctor ton nie sekere teach aciteher fel tatces the “grab” *

Average area of oyster bottom covered, per “‘grab,’’ with hand tongs:
d >

Depth of Water. Area Covered. |

1 to 5 feet. (9 Sq. yd.
G feet. .66 sq. yd.
7 feet. FDS Cle
8 feet. 46 sq. yd. 14-foot shafts.
9 feet. A0 sq. yd.
10 feet. 3D Sq. yd.
11 feet. ol Sq. ya. |
12 feet. 40 sq. yd. }
13 feet. 36. sq..yd. |
14 feet. 0d Sq. yd. |
15 feet. COUN Sen sya. |
16 feet. .28 sq. yd. } 22-foot shafts.
17 feet. 25 Sq. yd. |
18 feet. 23 SQ: yd. ||
19 feet. WL SGs” YOu ss]
20 feet. 19 sq. yd.

Area covered, per “grab,” with patented tongs:................. 1 to 1.3 sq. yd.

*A “grab” is made when the tongs are placed upon -the bottom, with the
heads open, and the shafts closed once.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 13

Number of “grabs” made per hour by tongmen (average) :

Using Hand Tongs——————.,————_Using Patented Tongs————_,
Depth of Water. Number “Grabs.” Depth of Water. Number “Grabs.”

5 feet. * 162 18 to 30 feet. 50

6 feet. 162 30 to 50 feet. 40

7 feet. 156 50 to 70 feet. 33

8 feet. 156 70 to 90 feet. 26

9 feet. 156 90 to 130 feet. 23
- 10 feet. 156

11 feet. 156

12 feet. 144

13 feet. 132

14 feet. 132

15 feet. 120

16 feet. 108

17 feet. 108

18 feet. 84

19 feet. 84

20 feet. 84.

Area covered by tongmen, per Season (average) :

-————_Using Hand Tongs———————,_ Ussing. Patented Tongs—————_,

Depth of Water. Area Covered. Depth of Water. Area Covered.
1 to 5 feet. 21.1 acres. 18 to 30 feet. 10.7 acres.
6 feet. 17.6 acres. 30-to 50 feet. 8.7 acres.
7 feet. 14.1 acres. 50 to 70 feet. 7.1 acres.
8 feet. 11.8 acres. 70 to 90 feet. 5.5 acres.
9 feet. 10.3 acres. 90 to 130 feet. 5.0 acres.
10 feet. 9.0 acres.
11 feet. 7.9 acres.
12 feet. 9.5 acres.
18 feet. 7.8 aeres.
14 feet. 7.2 acres.
15 feet. 5.9 acres.
16 feet. 5.0 acres.
17 feet. 4.6 acres.
18 feet. 3.1 acres.
19 feet. 2.9 acres.
20 feet. 2.6 acres.
Area covered by a dredger (10-ton boat), per season............... 464 acres.
Area which must yield a livelihood to a dredger*.................. 140 acres.

* The 90,000 acres of dredging ground (carefully estimated) belonging to the
State must yield a livelihood to each of the 6388 dredgers licensed to work on it
(during the season of 1907 and 1908), hence 140 acres must yield one livelihood.

?

14 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Number of oysters required per square yard to yield a livelihood to oystermen
using hand tongs:

Depth of Water. Oysters at $ .60. Oysters at $ .75. Oysters at $1.00.

1 to 5 feet. 1.58 12 .95
6 feet. 1.86 1.50 tet?

7 feet. 2.16 105 \ 1.380

8 feet. 2.50 2.00 1.50

9 feet. 2.83 Qi25 1.70

10 feet. 3.16 2.50 1.90

11 feet. 3.50 2.75 2.10

12 feet. 3.83 3.00 2.30

13 feet. 4,25 3.35 2.55

14 feet. 4.66 3.70 2.80

15 feet. 5.16 4.10 3.10

16 feet. 5.83 4.60 3.50

17 feet. 6.66 L245) 4.00

18 feet. 7.50 6.00 4.50

19 feet. 8.66 6.75 5.20

20 feet. 10.00 7.60 6.00

Number of oysters required, per square yard, to yield a livelihood to oystermen
using patented tongs:

Depth of Water. Oysters at $ .75. Oysters at $1.00.
18 to 30 feet. PAS; Alar
30 to 50 feet. 2.8 Poa
50 to 70 feet. Bi5) 2.6
70 to 90 feet. 4.5 3.4
90 to 180 feet. 5.0 3.7

Number of oysters required, per square yard, to yield a livelihood to oystermen
using a dredge:
Oysters at$ .60 per bu. Oysters at $ .75 per bu.

ATC MAlINGE DENS! cemessessre tens sista 1.44 1.18

GNVTAYVW AO SGNNOYS YSLSAO AHL AO AZAYNS SHL ONILONGNOD AO SGOHLAW ONILVYLSNIII HOLAMS

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 15

METHODS OF OYSTER SURVEY.*
INFORMATION FURNISHED.

Before beginning the actual survey of oyster grounds the Com-
mission is furnished by the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur-
vey with projections, constructed on a scale of I part in 10,000
(approximately 6 1-3 inches to a statute mile), showing the shore
line of the localities to be surveyed and the plotted positions of the
triangulation stations. The Coast and Geodetic Survey has a party
in the field to erect signals above, and determine the position of
such triangulation stations as are needed by the hydrographic en-
gineers for use in making the survey of the oyster grounds.

Prior also to making a survey of any section the local assistant,
appointed by the County Commissioners, gives information as to
the approximate location and extent of the oyster grounds of the
section so they can be indicated in pencil on the boat sheets. This
information greatly expedites survey operations in that it makes
surveys of barren bottoms unnecessary, and saves cost of erecting
unnecessary shore stations beyond the limits of the natural oyster
bars.

EQUIPMENT.

The equipment for conducting the survey of the oyster grounds
and crabing bottoms includes boats, instruments, etc., a brief list
and description of which follows:

The launch “CANVASBACK,’”? with a coxswain and machinist,
is furnished by the United States Bureau of Fisheries. This launch,
42 feet long, 9-foot beam, has a draft of three feet and is hence well
adapted for work on oyster grounds the boundaries of which extend
into water as shallow as four feet.

The “ANGLE,” a dead-rise bateau, 24 feet in length, belonging
to the Commission, is used for surveying grounds situated in water
too shallow for the advantageous use of the launch “CANVAS-
BACK.” Before beginning field work in 1909 this boat was
equipped with a four horse-power gasoline engine.

* Modified from former report, in conformity with changes in methods.
2¥For a detailed account of the work and equipment of the Investigator, see
pages 37 and 116 of First Report.

16 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

The steamer “GOVERNOR R. M. McLANE,” belonging to the
State Fishery Force and placed at the disposal of the Commission
in accordance with Section 97 of the Haman Oyster Culture Law,
has been used for surveying oyster grounds situated in the bold
waters of the Chesapeake bay. This steamer has also been used for
placing buoys.at the corners of the natural oyster bars; towing the
houseboat ““OYSTER” from one anchorage to another, and for
transporting supplies (coal, water and provisions) to the houseboat.

The launch “INVESTIGATOR,” a bay canoe, 34 feet long with
7.5-foot beam, purchased by the Commission and fitted with an
eight horse power Fairbanks gasoline engine, has been used since
1906 for making examinations of oyster grounds and for collecting
data and specimens for the physical and biological investigaticns.

During the season of 1906 various boats were hired for this work,

but the necessity for increasing the number of examinations of the
grounds surveyed’ was later realized and a launch more perfectly
adapted for the work was therefore fitted up.

A scow, the “MARYLAND,” 32 feet long, 12 feet wide and 3
feet deep, has been built and equipped by the Commission for use
in transporting buoys and sinkers and placing them at the cor-
ners of the natural oyster beds. The scow 1s towed from place to
place either by the launches or by the steamer “GOVERNOR R. M.
McLANE” and the sinkers and buoys are dropped from her deck.

The following description of the houseboat “OYSTER?” is copied
from the report prepared by Captain C. C. Yates and published by
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey:

HOUSEBOAT “OYSTER.” 2

While arranging to turn over the command of the steamer Hndeavor, the rep-
resentative of the Survey, acting under preliminary instructions from the
Superintendent, was engaged in frequent consultation with the Shell Fish Com-
missioners in reference to the program of future work. In addition to these
duties, he undertook for the Commissioners the planning and supervision neces-
sary to convert the old side-wheel steamer Thomas L. Worthley into a house-
boat for the surveying parties of both the Commissicn and the Government.

The Worthley, now called the houseboat Oyster, was in excellent condition
when purchased by the Commission. The keelsons and timbers were sound, and
the upper works strong. After the removal of the old engine and boiler, the
houseboat was docked and her hull thoroughly examined. The outside planking
below the water line was found in good condition, and, although it was recalked,

1 See frontispiece.
2 See illustration opposite page 16.

..

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. D7.

it was done as an additional precaution, the hull having been absolutely water-
tight from the day of purchase.

The Oyster is about 1385 feet over all and 35 feet in beam. The main deck
contains living quarters for 27 men, the officers’ mess-room and the galley. The
upper deck has 11 staterooms, 5 for the 8 Commissioners and their 2 hydro-
graphic engineers, 4 for the Coast Survey officers, 1 for the representative of the
United States Bureau of Fisheries and 1 for the local county oyster commis-
sioner. Besides these rooms, there are located on this deck a large drafting
room, a laboratory for oyster investigation and an office room. Coal for the two
Government launches and the galley is stored in the hold, which also contains
fresh-water tanks having a capacity of about 7,000 gallons. Signal lumber is
carried on the main deck aft of the officers’ mess-room.

As a whole, the Oyster is plainly and practically equipped for the work to be
done. She has added much to the amount of the surveying accomplished during
the season, and the Coast and Geodetic Survey representative greatly appreci-
ates the practical advantages furnished to his party by their quarters on the
houseboat. When. the large party of the combined surveying forces is taken
into consideration with the limited accommodations usually obtainable on
shore, the attending difficulties of a scattered party, the uncertain location and
supply of coal and water for launches and sufficient lumber for signals, it is
easily seen that the amount of work accomplished would have been reduced
greatly if there had been no such houseboat as the Oyster to supply all require:
ments of the surveying operations.

With reasonable care and repairs, the Oyster will be a valuable asset to the
Commission at the completion of the oyster survey of the State, besides having
paid her first cost several times over in both quality and quantity of work
accomplished.

The steam launch “INSPECTOR?” and coal-oil launch “BLAKE,”
although not used by the Commission or its engineers directly, have
nevertheless been a part of the equipment for the work of the sur-
vey. They belong to and were used by the Coast and Geodetic Sur-
vey party in erecting signals, placing monuments to mark the tri-
angulation stations and for making the triangulation necessary to
determine the geographical positions of the permanent objects and
triangulation stations.

A number of small boats, furnished by the United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey and Bureau of Fisheries, were also available
for any purpose for which they might be needed.

The instruments (sextants, protractors and drawing instrumencs )
and record books needed by the hydrographic engineers for conduct-
ing the survey of the oyster grounds have been provided by the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.'. The uses to which tte
instruments are put are stated further on.

Such instruments as have been found necessary for constructing
leasing charts, for computing areas and for conducting the physi-

1 Authorized by the Act of Congress approved May 26, 1906.

18 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

cal and biographical investigationst have been purchased by the.
Commission.
ORGANIZATION.

The organization of the party for hydrographic field work when
fully completed is as follows :*

1 Hydrographic Engineer. 2 Oarsmen.

2 Asst. Hydrographic Engineers. 1 Boatswain (houseboat).

1 Draftsman. 1 Nightwatchman (houseboat).
1 Clerk (on houseboat). 1 Coxswain (Investigator).

,1 Recorder. 1 Machinist (Investigator).

1 Leadsman, 1 Tide Observer.

1 Local Assistant. 2 Cooks.

1 Expert Tongman. 2 Waiters.

Day laborers for buoy construction and oarsmen have been hired’
as the exigencies of the work required.

METHODS.

The methods employed by the Commission in making the hydro-
graphic survey of the oyster grounds of Maryland, with slight
modifications, are the same as those used by the United States.
Bureau of Fisheries in conducting surveys of oyster grounds in
other States, |
and by the Coast and Geodetic Survey in making hydrographic
surveys.

The approximate position of an oyster ground having been
pointed out by the local assistant, a zigzag or parallel series of lines.
of soundings is run over it by the engineers and their assistants in
the launch “CANVASBACK,” in order to ascertain its exact limits,
the depth of water over it and the general condition of the bottom.

A chart, known as a “boat sheet” (a copy of a polyconic projec-
tion) showing the shore line of the waters of the section being sur.
veyed and the plotted positions of the triangulation stations above
which signals have been erected, is spread on a chart board in the
launch before the engineers and upon this boat sheet the positions of
the launch at the end of intervals of two or three minutes while-

1 The apparatus used in ascertaining the density of the water over the oyster
grounds is the property of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

2Changes having been made in the personnel of the party as the survey
progressed from one section of the State to another, the names of employees:
are omitted.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. 19

running lines of soundings, are plotted by one of the engineers using
a three-arm protractor’, or position finder, for the purpose.

The position of the launch at each of these intervals is dcter-
mined by two angles, formed between the launch and three shore
signals, observed and measured simultaneously by the engineers
with setants’.

By connecting consecutive positions of the launch as thus plotted
on the boat sheet, with straight lines, the course and position of the
lines of soundings on the oyster ground is shown.

The three-point problem, which is involved in locating each of
the positions occupied during the survey, is illustrated by figure 7,
in which X represents the launch and A, B and C the signals on
shore. The angles AXB and BXC are those taken by the engincers
with sextants to locate the position of the boat at X. The right-
‘hand angle BXC (75° 48’) is transferred to the vernier between
the middle and right arms of the protractor, and the left-hand
angle AXB (58° 16’) is transferred to the vernier between the mid-
dle and left arms. When the protractor is thus set and laid on the
chart in such position that the left arm passes through the plotted
position of signal A, the middle arm through the plotted position of
signal B and the left arm through the plotted position of signal C
the point in which the three arms of the protractor meet, (the cen-
tre of the hub) is the point on the chart representing the position of
the boat when the sextant angles were taken.

All angles taken during the survey are plotted on the boat sheets
by one of the engineers, while the other records the angles in an
angle record book.

During the progress of the launch over an oyster ground the
leadsman, occupying a cage attached to. the deck on the starboard
side, forward, throws his lead line at intervals of 20-30 seconds,
measuring the depth of water and testing the bottom at each cast.
Having made a sounding the leadsman reports the depth of water,

1A three-arm protractor (figure 1) is an instrument used for plotting obser-
vations made with sextants, of two angles to three known points for the location
of the point of the observer. The description of the theory of the sextant and
protractor and their use in hydrography requires the use of language too tech-
nical to be of general interest.

2A sextant (figure 2) is an instrument constructed for measuring the angle
between two objects (signals) from the position of the observer.

20 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

FIGURE 1

4~.N 09 HISSI DE EELIELA

FIGURE 2

€ 3ynola

22 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

in fathoms and feet, and the character of the bottom in the follow-
ing terms: soft, hard, sticky, rocky or grassy.

The recorder, seated in the after part of the launch with a clock
before him, notifies the leadsman at the end of each 20-30 second
interval, by means of an electric bell, that it is time for a sounding
to be made, and in a sounding record book records the depth of
water in fathoms and feet and character of the bottom as reported
by the leadsman, in the following symbols: sft. (soft), stk.
(sticky), hrd. (hard), rky. (rocky), or grs. (grassy).

The local assistant, operating the chain-wire apparatus from the
forward port side of the launch, tests the oyster ground at the end
of each 20-30 second interval and reports to the recorder his find-
ings in the following terms: barren, very scattering, scattering,
medium or dense. His report is given immediately following that
of the leadsman and is recorded in the sounding record book with
the initial letters of the terms used to. describe the condition of the
ground.

The chain-wire apparatus as it appears in operation is shown on
the insert, opposite page 18 of this report. It consists in a piece of
heavy chain to which a stout copper wire is attached. When run-
ning a line of soundings the chain at the end of the wire is towed
over the bottom, and from the vibrations or lack of vibrations
on the wire the condition of the ground is inferred. The vibrations
are detected by holding the wire in the hand. When the drag is
passing over barren bottoms the chain tows smoothly and eventy
and no vibrations are transmitted to the wire, but when shells or
oysters are struck by the chain the wire is made to jerk and vibrate.
If the vibrations are infrequent the inference is that shells or
oysters are very scattering, and when the vibrations become more
frequent or constant, a scattering, medium or dense growth of
oysters is inferred.

A small boat containing small buoys with 1o-pound dumb-bells
for sinkers, is towed behind the launch at a distance such that it re-
mains above the position of the chain drag on the bottom. At pgints
on each line of soundings small buoys are cast over to mark stations
to be occupied and remains above the position of the chain drag on
the bottom. At points on each line of soundings, small buoys are
cast over to mark stations to be occupied and examined by the “IN-
VESTIGATOR’” which, with an expert tongman, follows the survey

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. 23,

launch (see illustration opposite page 18). The position of each buoy
on the line of soundings and the number of each is recorded in both
the angle record and sounding record books. ‘Their positions, indi-
cated by small flags, are also plotted on the boat sheets (see
page 24).

Between consecutive plotted positions of the launch in a line of
soundings, shown in figure 8 by the numerals above the lines
(32-41 ), seven observations of the depth of water, character of the
bottom and condition of the oyster ground have been made. The
positions of these observation stations may be plotted on the lines.
of soundings by dividing the part of the plotted line between con-
secutive positions of the launch, into eight equal spaces, the points
separating these spaces indicating the positions of the sounding
stations. The findings of the local assistant with the chain appara-
tus at these stations are indicated by writing the symbols B, V, S,
S, M or D below the lines as shown in figure 8.

The results of the use of the chain-wire apparatus having been
thus plotted on the lines of soundings, the limits of the oyster or
shell covered bottom are then shown upon the boat sheet by draw-
ing a line (X-Y and M-N in figure 8) across the ends of the lines.
of soundings through the spaces which separate the soundings, indi-
cating barren bottom, from those indicating the presence of shells or
oysters.

This line, indicating the limit of the oyster-producing bottom,
does not mark the official limits of the oyster ground, but it serves.
as a guide for enclosing the ground within a straight-sided figure
(see figure 6 on page 73) such as is designated shall be used to define
the limits of the natural bars by Section 90 of the Haman Oyster
Culture Law.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

24

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Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

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26 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

REPORT OF SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS OF
OYSTER-GROUNDS.

FOREWORD.

As in the former report, the survey of the oyster grounds is de-
scribed herein as having proceeded from north to south in the
counties on the Western Shore, and from south to north in the
counties on the Eastern Shore. Grounds located in sections desig-
nated by law for the exclusive use of tongmen in each county are
described first, the descriptions of grounds on which scrapers or
dredgers may work following.

All facts relating to natural oyster bars which lend themselves
to a statistical form of presentation, such as names, dates, areas,
numbers of corners, conditions as represented by number of oysters
per square yard or bushels of oysters per acre, are included in
tables, one set for each county, placed after the text in each case
Subject-matter which can not be satisfactorily reported by the
statistical method is given in the text.

The feature of the Maryland Survey which distinguishes it from
former surveys of oyster grounds, and which gives it its right to be
considered a real investigation of the oyster grounds of Maryland,
is that of the series of examinations carried on in connection with
the lines of soundings and chain-wire readings. The results of these
examinations constitute the basis upon which the status of the
grounds, whether natural oyster bar or leasable bottoms, is deter-
mined by the Commission. It was very early realized that the
accuracy of the final results of the survey depends not only upon the
accuracy of the method by which the examinations of the oyster
producing bottoms are carried on, but to a very large extent also
upon the number and proper location of the stations at which exami-
nations are made. The Commission has, therefore, endeavored to
increase the number of these examinations to the fullest capacity
of the equipment for this work and to perfect the methods by which
the examinations are carried on. The following statement of the
number of examinations of the surveyed bottoms made during the

SAGNNOUS YALSAO ONININVXS YOS GaddINOA GNVW GANNYW SV
YOLVSILSAANI SHL,,

STS a ae

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 27

four seasons occupied by the oyster survey, shows to what extent
this plan has been carried out:

Hxaminations made during 1906 (half season) ............ ccc ccc scenes 440
MW XAMINatlONS: MAG es UTIL: Ml OO iesy vi he seicave ts ava levaley ales ore: eOhaietan dls. ca) evereve: oe, ele verelie 988
HMMM ALTOHSEMAGE TOUTES sl GOSia) srs: sic eusraceletave'c sre of 3) ecevetahelacele. eae © oie el ele eeiele Dra,
Wa INAVIONS. MAG CRMUMIN Salo O Rak vs aris cvs, tesetele bie does aheieuneislaieievaie oe svensteers 3,164

The names of the practical oystermen engaged by the Commission
to make the examinations of the bottoms surveyed during the period
covered by this report, are given in the list which follows:

Farry Nea vith. bs dLUIM ORE COMME ie. le)cye tires 416 leusyensta's,clc/e wie) 64 Examinations.
George RK: Scoone, Kent county... oc. od. c cc wee ewes 990 Examinations.
ERPS SCOOME: FOOT GsCOUMEY on scicts etek ere cress tiers eveuaio le ererete 59 Hxaminations.
AGE PEO THeN CHANG C. CO UME Vir nrcrole stele: Poueravers'er oiosaue cove 1e hone aioe 102 Examinations.
eh esoOnes: Queen ANNES COUNTY. ~ <.ca ela ciweleicielececevsreece o/s 579 Examinations.
A. W. Marshall, Queen Anne’s county................... 1,351 Examinations.
Haier rench Queen. Aqne/SCOuUnGYe «sists Coe it as ta ee 19 Examinations.

MO LAL encse-ste Ne OE Dabs Stan Rate toilet eve ehaiets ootmeee apenata atcha @raveiore os 3,164 Examinations.

Observations on the rate of flow of currents over the grounds at
the examination stations have been largely discontinued because the
time required for making them has been needed for multiplying the
number of examinations of the oyster grounds and also because of
the availability of the extensive series of current observations made
in the bay by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The results of these
observations can be supplemented in any particular locality when
needed.

Observations on the density of the water in each locality at the
time of the survey, and on the character of the bottom upon which
the oyster bars are found, have been continued and samples of water
have been regularly taken from the oyster bars for a study of the
quantity and quality of the available oyster food, as this work in
no way retards the progress of the survey.

No attempt is made either in the text of this report or on the
published charts to give information with regard’ to the limits or
extent of the various kinds of bottom on which the oyster bars
were found to extend, but such information may be secured for any
of the grounds covered by the survey by reference to the records of
the surveys and examinations which are filed in the office of the
Commission at Baltimore.

In making the estimates of the quantity of marketable oysters
each natural bar may be expected to yield during the season follow-
ing that of the survey, it is estimated that one-third of the market-

28 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

able oysters available on the bottom one season, will remain on the
bar at the end of the season, and that one-half of the oysters which
are less than two and one-half inches in length (culls) one season,
will have grown to marketable size before the opening of the next.
These estimates are intendd to show whether the bars are tending
toward depletion or toward continued productivity. They are
thought to be fairly accurate for such natural bars as have a hard
foundation, for on such bars, oysters and shells are usually fairly
continuously distributed. For barswhich cover bottomscomposed of
soft mud the estimates are not to be considered accurate, because on
such bottoms oysters grow in dense patches or lumps, the bottom
between being entirely barren.

The quantities of oysters taken by the tongmen at the examina-
tion stations are made the basis for the estimates of the yield of the
natural bars, and the estimated yield is therefore in excess of the
actual, for the stations selected by the local assistants for examina-
tion are usually those which the chain-wire apparatus indicated to
be better stocked with oysters than the adjacent areas.

The number of licenses issued to oystermen during successive
oyster seasons afford an index to the general condition of the public
oyster grounds in the various parts of the State and supplies a fairly
satisfactory basis upon which to estimate the total quantity of
oysters yielded by the public oyster grounds of the State during any
particular season. For this reason-the following table is intro-
duced:

TABLE SHOWING ALL LICENSES ISSUED TO OYSTERMEN IN MARY-
LAND DURING THE OYSTER SEASONS SINCE 1906.

To Tongmen. To Serapers. To Dredgers.
Se ig SS =| —-_-_*-—_—_

County. 1906 1907 1908 1909 1906 1907 1908 1909 1906 1907 1908 1909
1907 1908 1909 1910 1907 1908 1909 1910 1907 1908 1909 1910

AmmerAu mand lt 4: (on ti ul ata dO Site cebaut tenet siete) crea mmedeyers ae 6 6 5
Cal Veta 425 CUO Be HUE EDO MAL ete hee 2, et dalle caieeatets 23), 22a esa ae
Ghaxrlesises fe 19 22007222 ea ese arora aiige lolebaerarer« cae aie 2 2
Dorchester... 1168 1054 1089 951 401 412 412 400 83 “2 ea Obr seas
IREM havawracnve FAG BAM OH GOGT DOD a cs wis.g une eaters ote SS eS oticne ec
Queen Anne’s 429 497. 519. 468 .... .... wile ol of: louayebelld etal tcoe tee ee ne eee

Somerset.... 513 376.364 351 428° 324° 442.303: 320° 371 388" 356
St-Mary sys A On5y 1044: PSiSis woo el lmiem sschenemiebeteretataney ete BO) STB (Gil 98
Talbot osc... GoD LOO O2D e045 taper ON Me O47 esi ae 0G LS teal SOU e
Wicomico! s: 756 +435)" 4967 AOO)l dees sicke cn senate oe a 4 Hi tO 6
AAO etch s) evs De re Ra UI OE Ae Fue MRA see REY OR nM TAU EA Gyr GR cis tte volbAcn Slav
Balto@ riya eae TAR Fe nee - Stet oyene eS 32. 61. 49 38

Motali roe 6559 6437 6810 6080 930 840 969 909 544 6388 684 578

Da i ee

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 29

An approximately correct estimate of the total number of bushels
of oysters taken from the public oyster grounds during any oyster
season may be secured by multiplying the total number of licenses
issued that season to tongmen, scrapers and dredgers, by 450, 1,500
and 3,500 respectively, these numbers representing the quantity of
oysters a tongman, scraper or dredger must catch during an oyster
season in order to have secured a livelihood.

It often happens during seasons when oysters are scarce or are
poor in quantity or when the price of oysters is abnormally low,
that oystermen do not continue to work throughout the entire
season and for such seasons the estimated total yield of the oyster
grounds, made on the proposed basis, would likely be very con-
siderably greater than the actual yield.

BALTIMORE COUNTY.
CHESAPEAKE BAY. .
(Maryland Oyster Chart No. 28.)

The waters lying within the territorial limits of Baltimore
County are too fresh to support the growth of oysters, but the sec-
tion of the Chesapeake bay contiguous to Baltimore County and
hence, under provision of the law, to be opened for lease for oyster
culture with Baltimore County, contains a considerable portion of

those bottoms, very prolific in small oysters, collectively known as
She lumps.”

The section may be roughly described as that portion of the bay
situated west of a line marking the mid-bay channel between the
mouths of the Gunpowder and Patapsco rivers. Its boundary lines,
established by the Maryland Shell Fish Commission for the purposes
of carrying out the provisions of the law, aredelineated on Maryland
Oyster Chart No. 28, and are technically described and defined in
the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey report entitled “Survey of
Oyster Bars—Baltimore County.”

The oyster bars of the section are designated for the use of dredg-
ers, and their output, frequently of very considerable quantity, is
eagerly taken by the packers of Baltimore.

Formerly the bottoms in this section on which oysters “set” and

_ grew, were much greater in area and had a much more general dis-

30 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

tribution than now. The bottoms which were stocked with living
oysters at the time of the survey, September and October, 1909,.
were confined to the open part of the bay near mid-channel and they
have been reserved for the public oyster fishery within the limits of
three natural bars’ aggregating an area of 3010 acres.

Several shelly bottoms, aggregating an area of about 2000 acres,
which have been more or less productive within recent years, were
found to be entirely barren of living oysters at the time of the sur-
vey and were not included within the limits of natural bars. Boxes*
were occasionally found at some of the examination stations on
these exhausted bottoms near the lower end of Hart Island, but
none on the bottoms off Millers Island.

Observations made at Tolchester wharf from August 6 to II.
1909 indicate a maximum range of the tide for the section of 1.8
feet—a mean range of 1.01 feet.

Specimens of water collected at the examination stations during
the period occupied by the survey (the dry season) showed a density
of 1.0082 at low tide and 1.0108 at high water, a condition very
favorable at that time, for the attachment of spat and growth of
oysters, being thereby indicated. No exact measurement of the
density of the water in this section during the early spring (wet
season) has been made,® but it is a well known fact that at this
season the water becomes so fresh from the inflow of the Susque-
hannah River and other head water tributaries, that the oysters are
stunted in their growth, and that spring freshets are sometimes so:
heavy and so long in duration as to kill practically all of the oysters.
The quantity of sediment brought down during these freshets is
enormous, and when deposited on the oyster beds, adds to the injury
done by the fresh water by smothering the oysters and burying the
shells. That conditions had been severe over this section during the
spring of 1909 is shown by the large number of “boxes” taken at the
examination stations.*

1 See table of oyster bars, on page 383.

2A “box’ is an oyster shell in which the hinge has not been broken. The
inference from such a shell is that the oyster is but recently dead.

8 Arrangements have been completed for making a series of simultaneous
observations of the density of the water at several stations throughout the
Chesapeake Bay from the Capes to Poole’s Island Light during the months of
April and September, 1911.

4 See page 32.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 31

The boundary line between the contiguous waters of Baltimore
and Kent Counties passes through the oyster grounds generally
known as Tea Tables and Gales Lump, and for convenience in
description, charting and buoying, the parts of both grounds lying
on the Baltimore County side, have been placed together and charted
as one bar and given the name Tea Table, the name Gales Lump
being given to the parts of these grounds situated on the Kent
County side.

Tea Table bar as laid down on the oyster chart includes the num-
erous small oyster lumps situated on the soft muddy bottoms at the
lower end and on the eastern bank of the blind channel, or slough,
west of the “middle ground” upon which Gales Lump bar has been
developed. It also includes a large area of more or less continuous
oyster bar on the hard, sandy and sticky bottoms on the western
part of the middle ground. The general level of the channel bottom
upon which the lumps at the lower end of the bar are situated, is
19 to 22 feet below the level of mean low water. The oyster-bear-
ing lumps rise several feet above the surrounding bottom, however,
the depths over the lumps varying from 9 to 12 feet, hence the
appropriate name of Tea tables for the whole area. The depth of
water over the high sandy middle ground is about 11 feet, grading
off to depths of 13 to 21 feet over the sticky and soft bottom west
of the middle ground.

The results of the examinations made on this bar indicate that
55 per cent. of the oysters with which it was stocked during the
Fall and Winter of 1908 were killed during the Spring of 1909,
and that 48 per cent. of the oysters with which it was stocked at the
time of the survey had attached to the shells during the Summer of
1909. They afforded evidence also that the destructive effects of the
Spring freshets had not been equally severe over the whole area, for
at some of the stations no dead oysters (boxes) were found, at
others a small percentage only were dead, and at others the per-
centage of dead oysters among the living was as high as 50 and 75,

The natural oyster bar to which the name Millers Island has been
given includes the lumps of the soft muddy bottom on the west
bank of the slough opposite Tea Table bar and the adjacent sandy
bottom upon which oysters and shells were found. It is covered
with water 10 to 19 feet in depth. All of the oysters and “boxes”
taken at the examination stations were small, none being 2% inches

32 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

in length. The results of the examinations indicated that 57% of
the oysters on the bar were killed during the Spring of 1909, and
that 37% of the living oysters on the bar at the time of the survey
were the “set” of 1909. The “cultch”’ on the sandy parts of the
bar consisted in worn fragments of shells.

Man O’ War Shoals bar occupies the sand bar of that name and
also includes the lumps which have been developed on the soft
muddy bottoms in the deeper water surrounding it. The Front
Range Light for Craighill channel is situated near the north-west
corner of the bar. The depth of water over the high central ridge
of the sandy shoal is from 4 to 8 feet, but oysters were taken in
water 17 feet deep. In the arms of the slough into which the
eastern end of the bar extends, much greater depths were observed.
At IO examination stations on Man O’ War Shoals bar 6 bushels of
shells were taken from 18.5 square yards of bottom. From this
' material 16 oysters more than 2% inches in length (marketable)
and 99 oysters less than 2% inches long (culls) and 187 recently
dead oysters (boxes) were culled. These findings are taken to indi-
cate that 62% of the oysters on Man O’ War Shoals bar were killed
during the Spring of 1909 (10 of the culls were “spat” caught since
the Spring). They also show that an average square yarc of the
bottom on the oyster producing part of the bar was stocked with
1.2 pecks of shells, 10 dead oysters, 5.3 small oysters and .8 mar-
ketable oysters. The stock on the bar is not equally distributed,
however, as is shown by the following table giving the findings at
each station :

FINDINGS AT EXAMINATION STATIONS ON MAN-O’-WAR SHOALS BAR.

Depth. Area Covered. Material Taken.

Stations. Feet. Sq. Ft. Culls. Counts. Boxes. Shells.
Glee Pocciet as 15 2 il 8 1.5 Pecks.
DN rere ee 16 2 6 DZ 16 1.5 Pecks.
Dee siaiesia tree 14 2 1 12 1.5 Pecks.
AP Gere taat. 12 eve 3 22 4 Pecks.
Fea hyuestoe 17 1.4 8 55 4 Pecks.
Giese eck 11 2.3 16 9 4 Pecks.
i GSP pane einen O BH 2 a ae 2 Pecks.
Sabah. Mek eens 18 aleal 38 14 als: 1 Peck.
Qs are ke clic 12 a3) 20 iss 41 3° Pecks.
aR eal ide cote 11 ESD 4 11 1.5 Pecks.

Total 18.5 99 16 187 24 Pecks.

Average... 5.3 8 10 1.2 Pecks.

36)

.

ISVONEYS.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Comm

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34 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

KENT COUNTY.
INTRODUCTION.

The waters within the territorial limits of Kent County and the
waters contiguous to the county, in which natural oyster bars were
surveyed and examined in 1909, include the part of Chester river
above its deep water channel (the Kent-Queen Anne County bound-
ary line*) ; the tributaries of the Chester river which enter it from
the north; the waters designated in this report as East Neck bay;
Swan creek, and that section of the Chesapeake bay adjacent to
Kent County which lies east of the line* marking the mid-bay chan-
nel between the Kent-Queen Anne’s County boundary line, ex-
tended,* and a line connecting Handys Point, at the mouth of Wor-
ton creek, with the northernmost point of Pooles Island.

Within these waters sixty-four natural oyster bars, aggregating
a total area of 12,809 acres, have been charted and buoyed and
reserved to the public oyster fishery of the State.

The oyster bars lying within the section of the bay contiguous to
Kent County, exclusive of Swan point bar,+ are designated for the
use of dredgers. They are eight in number and cover 2,880 acres.

The oyster bars in all other waters in Kent County, including
Swan point bar, are reserved for the exclusive use of tongmen.
They are fifty-six in number and cover 9,920 acres.

Statisticaltables are printed on pages 44-47,in which maybe found
the name, date of survey, area and condition of each bar at the
time it was examined and the quantity of oysters each bar may be
expected to yield during the season of 1910-1911.

In none of the localities in which conditions favorable to the
growth of oysters are constant, were the oyster grounds found to
be seriously depleted from over-fishing, but in those localities where
certain natural conditions are adverse to the growth of oysters

* The exact locations of these lines are shown on Charts of Natural Oyster
Bars, Nos. 28, 29 and 80, and their technical descriptions are given in’ a report
entitled “Survey of Oyster Bars of Kent County,” to be published by the U. S.
Coast and Geodetic Survey and filed in the office of the Board of Shell Fish
Commissioners and with the Clerk of the Court of Kent County.

+ Section 19 of Article 72 o fthe Code of Public General Laws prohibits the
use of dredges within one and one-half miles of Swan Point bar.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 35

during all or a part of the year, such as the head waters of Chester
river and its tributaries and the Chesapeake bay, some oyster
grounds were surveyed and examined which failed to come up to
the adopted standard of a natural oyster bar and were not reserved
to the public oyster fishery.

The exhausted and barren bottoms located in parts of Chester
river and its tributaries are valuable for growing and fattening a
limited quantity of oysters; the quantity they will support per acre
depending upon the area of productive oyster grounds in their im-
mediate vicinity and depending also upon the rate with which the
water flows over them. If too many oysters are planted on these
bottoms none will fatten and many will die.

The depleted and barren bottoms located in the part of the bay
adjacent to Kent County will become of very great value for oyster
culture when the planting industry in the State shall have grown
sufficiently to create a demand for large quantities of seed oysters,
for there is every reason to believe that a good catch of spat will
be the usual result of exposing cultch during the late summer season
in this section.

In determining the status of the oyster grounds surveyed in Kent
County, a price of sixty cents per bushel was adopted as a maxi-
mum value for the oysters produced. The table by which determi-
nations were made is printed on page 14.

Four applications were received by the Commission in 1906 from
persons desiring to continue to hold the oyster lots under the present
law which they had leased in Kent County under former law, but
in one case only has a lease been perfected.

CHESTER RIVER.
(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 29 and 30.)

Natural oyster bars are found in Chester river proper, from the
mouth of the river to a point about five miles below Chestertown.
The mouth of the river is considered by the Commission to be
marked by a line about three and one-half miles in length, con-
necting the northernmost point on Kent island with the nearest
point on Wickes beach. The oyster bars in the half of the river
lying within the territorial limits of Kent County (the part north
of the line marking the mid-river channel) are 27 in number and

36 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

ageregate an area of 3,734 acres. They form an almost continuous
chain from the mouth of the river to Melton point; the few inter-
ruptions to the chain being due, in some cases, to the presence of
sand bars and muddy channels, in others to overworked and ex-
hausted oyster grounds. The exhausted areas, however, more often
involve the parts of bars only which are situated on the hard bot-
tom in the shallower waters near shore, the deeper lying parts of
such bars, situated on soft bottoms off shore, not having been de-
pleted to exhaustion.

The oyster bars are confined to the shelf of bottoms between the
shore and the edge of the deep mid-river channel. The channel in
the Chester river usually presents abruptly sloping sides and very
soft, muddy bottoms, and forms a barrier beyond which the oyster
bars do not extend, although they have spread over much of the
muddy and sticky bottoms in the deep water near, and sometimes
quite to, the channel edge. The parts of the bars located on the bot-
toms of soft mud beyond the harder borders of the shelf are not
uniformly oyster-bearing, but present the usual lump formation pe-
culiar to all oyster-bearing muds. None of the oyster bars belonging
to the Kent County half of the river extend into the waters of Queen
Anne County, but parts of four of the Queen Anne County bars ex-
tend across the boundary line into Kent County; viz., Northwest,
Follyday, Sheep and Piney Point bars. This is due to the fact that
the boundary line is intended to divide the river as equally as possi-
ble and at some places does not follow the main channel.

Oysters begin to be found near shore at about the 5 or 6-foot
depth curve and end in depths varying from about 4o feet, in the
lower part of the river, to about 10 feet in the upper part.

The density of the water of the river, according to frequent tests
made at examination stations on the oyster bars, during June and
part of July, was 1.004-1.0064 in the upper part; 1.0042-1.008 in
the central part and 1.0062-1.0089 in the lower part.

A: very few observations were made on the velocity with which
the water flows near the mid-river channel. These indicate a
maximum velocity at points in the vicinity of Piney Point, of .85
mile per hour; .5 mile per hour over Chester river middleground
and .g mile per hour off Melton point.

The record of daily observations on the rise and fall of the tide
at Cliffs wharf from June 2d to 30th shows a maximum range of

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commnussioners. 37

the tide for the period of 3.10 feet and a mean range of 1.4 feet.
The maximum range at Love Point Light, indicated by observa-
tions made from July 9th to August 4th is 2.4 feet, the mean range,
.88 foot.

The oyster bottoms in Chester river proper which were surveyed,
but which, upon examination, failed to measure up to the adopted
standard of a natural oyster bar, aggregate a total area of about
850 acres. These exhausted oyster bottoms, varying in size from
3 to about 200 acres, are distributed at numerous places along the
entire river shore beginning at a point about two miles above Melton
Point oyster bar. In addition to this exhausted bottom there are
barren bottoms thought to be suitable for oyster culture aggregating
an area of about 150 acres in the immediate vicinity of the ex-
hausted bottoms, making in all about 1,000 acres of bottom on the
Kent County side of the Chester river on which oyster culture could
be carried on with profit.

LANKFORDS BAY.
(Shown on chart of Natural oyster bars, No. 30.) ~

Lankfords bay, at the point where it joins Chester river, is about
three-fourths mile in width. Two miles above its mouth where it
has a width of about half a mile, it divides into an east fork and a
west fork, each of which is productive of oysters, the former to a dis-
tance of about three miles, the latter to a distance of two miles.
Five oyster bars are located in the part of the bay below its fork,
three in the east fork and four in the west fork, all of which were
charted to contain 493 acres.

In practically all localities where the bottoms are formed by
either soft mud or bald sand, oyster bars were either absent or had
been exhausted.

With the exception of Drum Point bar, the productive oyster
grounds in the part of the bay below the fork are confined to the
sticky mud bottoms on either side of the mid-channel over which
the depth of water varies from 8 to 23 feet. The part of the
channel included within the limits of Drum Point bar, although 38
feet in depth, was stocked with oysters. The channel at other places
is deep, soft and barren, but as it is narrow and not suitably located
sor oyster culture it was thought proper to include it with the

38 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

oyster-bearing bottoms on either side, thus reducing the number of
natural bars and simplifying the work of charting and buoying the
same. In both the east and west forks of the bay the productive
oyster grounds occupy the soft sandy, muddy bottoms in and near
the middle of the stream where the depths of water vary from 9 to
19 feet.

In June the water over the oyster bars at the head waters of the
forks had a density of 1.0015-1.0034, and 1.0028-1.004 in the part
of the bay below the forks.

The bottoms in Lankfords bay available and suitable for the
purposes of oyster culture aggregate an area of about 275 acres
and are distributed as follows: about 100 acres in east fork, 90
acres in west fork and 85 acres in the bay proper. About 200 acres
of this planting bottom was once covered with productive oyster
bars.

GRAYS INN CREEK.

(Shown on chart of natural oyster bars No. 30.)

Grays Inn creek is a small inlet from Chester river having a
width at its mouth of half a mile and a length of about three miles.
It is nowhere deep, the depths found over the oyster grounds
ranging from 18 to 5 feet. The supply of fresh water is very small
compared with the amount of brackish water brought into it from
Chester river by the tide, and until recent years it has been produc-
tive of oysters to a point two miles above its mouth. Bottoms of
soft and sticky mud prevail throughout the channel, and in many
places extend quite to the shore. The bottoms near shore are
sandy or gravelly and stony, and in some localities they were cov-
ered with grass.

_ At the time of the survey the water over the oyster grounds had
a density of 1.0046 to 1.006.

One large oyster bar containing 93 acres occupies the bottoms of
the lower part of the creek and extends into Chester river where it
joins Willow Bottom bar. The four small grounds surveyed in the
upper part of the creek did not measure up to the adopted standard
of a natural oyster bar either in condition or in area and were not
charted.

. The amount of barren bottom in Grays Inn creek available and
suitable for the purposes of oyster culture is about 100 acres, one-

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 39

half of which is known to have been productive of oysters in former

time.
EAST NECK BAY.

(Shown on chart of natural oyster bars No. 29.)

Fast Neck bay is the name given by the Commission to those
waters situated between the mouths of Chester river and Swan
creek, east of Swan Point bar and the line which separates the
waters of the Chesapeake bay in which dredging may be carried on,
from the waters along the Kent County shore where oysters may be
taken. with tongs only.

Within these waters eight natural oyster bars charted to contain
2,238 acres have been reserved to the public oyster fishery. Bot-
toms were pointed out by the local assistant for survey and ex-
amination, however, which cover not less than 3,000 acres, and it
was evident that the entire strip of bottoms, five and one-half miles
in length and averaging more than three-fourths of a mile in width,
situated along the shore between the mouths of Chester river and
Swan creek, has been productive of oysters until quite recently.
At four places on the surveyed area, grounds aggregating about 600
acres were found on which the stock of oysters and cultch had been
practically exhausted.

Soft and sticky mud bottoms are confined to a very narrow strip
bordering the channel south of Swan Point sand bar, and to the
middle and edges of the channel between Swan Point sand bar and
the Kent County shore. At other places the area surveyed has a
bottom of hard sand. The soft bottoms of the channel north of
Huntingfield point were stocked here and there with oysters, but
below this point the channel is barren.

The water over the oyster grounds had a density of 1.005-1.007
during the latter part of July, 1909. The maximum range of the
tide at Love Point Light from July 9th to August 4th was 2.4 feet,
the mean range, .88 foot.

SWAN CREEK.

(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 28 and 20.)

The waters of Swan creek are considered by the Commission to
enter East Neck bay along a line connecting Wind Mill point and
Swan point. It has a wide, bay-like entrance into which Tavern

40 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

creek empties. This tributary is less than one hundred yards in
width at its mouth and its bottoms do not therefore come within the
jurisdiction of the Haman Oyster Culture Law. The oyster pro-
ducing part of Swan creek proper is also small, being little more
than two miles in length and averaging about one-fourth of a mile in
width. The value of its 70 acres of natural oyster bar is due to
the fact that a large community of oystermen is settled in its vicin-
ity. These oystermen resort to the extensive oyster bars in East
Neck bay and to Swan Point bar for the greater part of their liveli-
hood and pay very little attention to the oysters on the Swan creek
grounds except at times when rough weather prevents work in open
waters. That the small bars in Swan creek are regularly worked to
their fullest capacity, however, is shown by the condition in which
they were found at the time of the survey.

Two oyster bars were found on the sandy bottoms of the wide,
bay-like entrance to the creek, one situated in and beyond the
mouth of Tavern creek, covering 12.5 acres and charted under the
name Tavern Creek bar, the other, Little Neck bar, is situated west
of the channel and includes a part of the soft muddy bottom near
the channel on the north. It contains 27 acres and is covered by
water having a depth from five to fourteen feet. The grounds in
Swan creek proper which measured up to the adopted standard of
a natural oyster bar cover 30.5 acres and have been charted within
the limits of five small bars.

Deep Point bar, situated in the narrow muddy channel just above
the steamboat landing, is the only bar in the creek which can be said
to be well stocked. Its fine condition is due partly to the deep water
with which it is covered and protected, but mainly to the swift cur-
rents by which its oysters are fed. The bars in the upper part of
the creek are all situated near shore, in shallow water, on bottoms
the greater area of which are composed of hard sand, but some are
stony and gravelly and some are soft. Swan Creek Upper bar as
charted contains two very small bars, one on either side of the
stream, and the part of the barren channel between.

The water over the oyster grounds in the lower part of the creek
had a density of 1.0052-1.006 and 1.0044-1.005 in the upper part.
Observations from the houseboat “OYSTER” at the Rock Hall
anchorage from August I to 5, inclusive, show that the density
varied with the tides from 1.0046-1.007.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. Al

Barren and exhausted bottoms suitable for oyster culture cover-
ing about 40 acres will be available for lease when the county iS
opened.

CHESAPEAKE BAY.

(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 28 and 29.)

The lines bounding the section of the Chesapeake bay adjacent
to Kent County, to be opened with the territorial waters of Kent
County, which have been established by the Shell Fish Commission
for the purpose of leasing the underlying barren bottoms for the
purpose of oyster culture, are described in this report on page 34,
and they will be technically described and defined in a report en-
titled “Survey of Oyster Bars of Kent County,” prepared by Cap-
tain C. C. Yates in co-operation with the Shell Fish Commission,
and published by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.*

In this section of the bay nine natural oyster bars which have
been charted to contain 6,172 acres, have been reserved to the Pub-
lic Oyster Fishery of the State. From eight of these bars oysters
may be taken with dredges, but, as stated on page 34, Swan Point
bar has been set aside for the exclusive use of tongmen.

East Neck Bay bar as chartedappears to be continuous with Love
Point bar, the two being separated by the Kent-Queen Anne bound-

*ary line. The oyster producing part of the reserved bottom, -how-
ever, is confined to the hard sandy area situated northeast of the
deep, muddy channel at the end of Love Point sandbar. The
water over the bar varies in depth from 20 to 30 feet. As a whole
the bar was found to be very much depleted and about 90 acres of
the bottoms pointed out for survey and examination failed to meas-
ure up to the adopted standard of a natural bar, and was not in-
cluded within the limits of the reserved area.

Swan Point bar, which constitutes a very considerable part of
the ground on which the tongmen of Rock Hall and vicinity secure
their livelihood, does not include the sand bar of that name, but lies
west of it. Something more than one-half of the bar, the part
south of Swan point, is situated upon bottoms composed almost en-
tirely of sand, but with sufficient sediment intermixed to produce

* Copies of this report, and the accompanying charts, can be secured by apply-
ing to the Superintendent of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washing-
ton, D. C.

42 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.
an ideal oyster bottom, and it supports a practically continuous
growth of oysters. The depths of water over this part of the bar
vary from 8 feet to 25 feet. The bottoms upon which the northern
half of the bar is situated are mostly soft or sticky and the oysters
grow in lumps and patches. The depth of water over the inshore
limits of this part of the bar averages about 13 feet except at the
extreme northern end where the depth is about 5 feet and the bot-
tom hard and stony. The depths over the outer limits vary from
2S Mectskor4 5 1eet.

The seven bars which remain, lie within the area generally known
as the Lumps, and a considerable portion of their bottoms is soft
and unproductive.’ Each bar, Mitchell's Bluff Buoy bar excepted,
contains one or more hard, sandy shoals, however, on which a con-
tinuous growth of oysters or a good stock of cultch is found. It is
probable that oysters became established first on these shoals and
that they have been spread to the adjacent sticky and soft ee terae
as a result of the work of dredgers.

Hodges and Tolchester Lump bars are found on the sloping,
sandy beach along the Kent County shore, and their soft, lumpy
bottoms are confined to their off-shore borders, which extend to the
edge of the deep mid-bay channel. The in-shore borders of both
bars are situated on very hard bottoms on which stones are abund-
ant at places. Oysters begin to be found at depths of 5 to 8 feet
on each bar and were taken on each at depths of 40 to 50 feet.
About three-fourths of the area included within the limits of
Hodges bar and one-half that of Tolchester Lump, is productive.

Fully one-half of Gales Lump bar is situated on an extensive sandy
shoal over which the depth of water varies from 7 to 12 feet. The
bottom on the greater part of the remaining area is composed of
sticky, sandy mud on which oysters or cultch are practically con-
tinuous. The bar as charted takes in a portion of the productive
bottoms generally known as the “Tea Tables” and a considerable
area of the barren bottom between Gales Lump and the lower part
of the Tea Tables. It also contains a small amount of soft, muddy
bottom on the east where it extends to the mid-bay channel. The
depths of water over the parts of the bar beyond the hard, sandy
shoal vary from 12 to 21 feet. About three- fourths of the bar as.
charted is productive.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. 43

The bottoms included within the limits of Mitchell’s Bluff Buoy
bar are all muddy and soft and oyster lumps cover about one-tenth
of the reserved area.

Deep Shoal, Coal Lump and Phenix bars are all found on and
around elevated sandy shoals and about one-half the area of each
as charted is oyster-bearing. At the highest points on the shoals
the recorded depths of water are 9 feet, 10 feet and 9g feet respec-
tively, and their outer limits extend upon soft bottoms over which
the greatest recorded depths are 29 feet, 32 feet and 24 feet re-
spectively.

The survey of the grounds in this section covers two periods, part
being done in July and August and part during October. During
the first period the water over the grounds in the upper part of
the section had a density of 1.0036-1.004 at low tide and 1.004-
1.0056 at high tide. The density in the lower part varied from
1.0048-1.006. During October the density of the water over the
whole section had increased to 1.008 and 1.0108. The density of
the water at the anchorage of the houseboat “Oyster” in Worton
creek, from August 6 to 12, inclusive, varied from 1.002-1.0036.

A few observations were made on the rate of flow of the cur-
rents over the grounds situated in and near the mid-bay channel
which indicate a maximum rate of 1.8 miles per hour.

The maximum range of the tide, as indicated by the records kept

‘at Tolchester wharf from August 6 to II, 1909, is 1.8 feet. the

mean range 1.01 feet.

The bottoms pointed out for survey as having been productive
within recent years which failed to measure up to the adopted stand-
ard of a natural bar, aggregate an area of about 1,000 acres. These
bottoms, if strewn with cultch, possess a very great value for the
production of seed oysters.

ISTONECTLS.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Comm

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48 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

THE: UPPER, BAY “LUMPS” -PROBEEM-AN D GEE
CULT Aw:

INTRODUCTION.

On account of frequent controversies and discussions in which
the “Lumps,” situated in the upper part of the Chesapeake bay, are
the subject, the results of the examinations of these oyster bottoms
which were carried on by the Shell Fish Commission will be re-
ceived with more than usual interest by those who take an active
interest in problems connected with the oyster fishery because great
difficulty has been experienced in securing accurate and unbiased
information concerning the conditions which prevail in this section.

The object in stating and briefly discussing the problem presented
by the lumps in this connection, however, is that the General As-
sembly may see how the problem involves not only the relatively
unimportant oyster grounds known collectively as “the lumps,” but
that it presents a condition which may involve and threaten the wel-
fare of the entire oyster industry of the State, and one therefore
that calls for consideration and solution.

THE CASE AS REPORTED.

The belief seems to be general that an enormous area of natural
oyster beds exists in the part of the bay situated above a line con-
necting Bodkin point, on the Western Shore, with Swan point, on
the Eastern Shore, on which young oysters become attached in ex-
traordinary abundance each spawning season only to stunted in
their growth or possibly killed in the spring by the floods of fresh
water which are poured into the headwaters of the Chesapeake by
the Susquehanna river and other tributaries following the spring
rains and thaws. It is said that on account of the many vicissitudes
which attend the lives of these oysters they seldom attain market-
able size, but that fully 90% of the stock on the beds even at the
end of the oystering season is made upofoysters measuring less than
214 inches in length, hence not marketable under the Cull Law, and
that it is not profitable to cull out the large quantity of undersized
oysters in order to secure the 10% of salable stock.

It is known that the canning houses of Baltimore are in a position
to handle enormous quantities of oysters and that their demand

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 49

covers small as well as larger stock, and it is stated that they have a
decided preference for the stock grown on the Lumps on account of
the plumpness of these oysters and their peculiar ability to retain
their plumpness after having passed through the canning processes.

PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARD VIOLATIONS OF THE CULL LAW.

Coupling this demand of the packers for the stock on the Lumps,
with the belief that all oysters which may be left on these grounds
at the end of the oytering season will almost surely be killed by the
Spring freshets and thus entirely lost to the trade, and also with
the further idea that none of the oysters will be gathered unless the
dredgers are assured that violations of the Cull Law will be winked
at or at least that the law will be very leniently enforced; in view of
these reports and beliefs, there is a growing willingness on the part
of the public to look with favor upon the nonenforcement of the
Cull Law, as far as the oysters taken from the Lumps aré concerned,
in order that the greatest possible quantity of these oysters may be
saved to the trade before the end of the oystering season. As evi-
dence of this attitude we have only to recall the apparent unconcern —
with which the frequent reports of wholesale violations of the Cull
Law on the Lumps and of an extensive traffic in unculled oysters
from the Lumps, have been received.

The desire of the public that these oysters should not be lost is
a commendable one, but is it not possible that the public is somewhat
misinformed both as to the conditions which prevail on the Lumps
and also as to the possibility of restricting the traffic in unculled
oysters to the stock from the Lumps? Is it not possible that the
reports which have been given out as to the area covered by the
oyster-producing grounds in the upper part of the bay and as to the
quantity of small oysters annually produced on these grounds, have
been greatly exaggerated purposely in order to create a sentiment in
favor of a lax enforcement of the Cull Law for these oysters, under
the cover of which cargoes of unculled oysters from the natural
bars in other sections of the bay and tributaries might be success-
fully marketed.

THE CASE AS DEVELOPED BY THE SURVEY.

The results of the survey of the oyster grounds in question show
that the area covered by the Lumps is not nearly so extensive as has

50 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

been reported, and the examinations which were made, indicate that
the reported quantity of small oysters which the Lumps annually
produce, is excessive.

The productive oyster grounds situated above a line connecting
Bodkin point with Swan point, exclusive of Swan point bar, include
the following natural oyster bars:

Area Quantity
Name of Bar. Area Actually Oysters on Bar*
Reserved. Productive. When Surveyed.
A
peor eam see

Se
Anne Arundel County. Acres. Acres. Bushels.
Bodkinweoimt mortise mantels ciel cleus 547 PGS 14,300
“Lumps,” east of Craighill Channel.. 2,048 650 161,850
Baltimore County.
Millers) LSlang emp errs ccierersien<ctustess 140 50 2,650
Rea Wales Maur Miran verece letawers fetleholnys, ane 2,136 1,050 130,200
MankO War Shoalsitsscr ries ccrosiecere 734 370 15,910
Kent County.
FLOORS Siac es eethese bee tetas wie ene 298 225 96,075
Gale Sh Wipers ieycconetelccsieverenslonciere 1,927 1,500 120,000
Mitchellise Bluifis “EsWO yee te lecein ele levers 94 10 7,910
MoOLEHESteMa UUM PE cis see wiale stevete cies 39 20 14,460
CoalvEliMPMSaehiomtcre older aveleveterete 210 105 7,665
IDO SOR BeOS tabs 6 ooo oaoma bE OC 90 45 7,470
1 dl aYe S10 Ls: Choe Use IMEC rea es aR SRP snehee ie 46 25 225
POT el escucuservensoen cues ake sith das hs cchcroueys 8,809 5,325 578,715

From these figures it is seen that the total area of natural oyster
grounds reserved to the Public Oyster Fishery of the State in this
section, where oysters fail to growand mature properly, is but 8,309
acres.. If from this total area we eliminate the unusually large
amount of barren bottom which has been necessarily included within
the limits of the natural bars in bounding them by straight lines,
the area of actually productive botoms a be reduced to about
5,325 acres, which is 214% only of the entire natural oyster re-
sources of the State.

On these two points then—the area and the output of the Lumps,
there is a wide variance between the reports, given out by parties
who are materially interested in exaggerating dhe importance of this
section, and the results of actual examinations but, with respect to
the accuracy of the reports of the great damage annually sustained
by these oysters on account of floods of fresh water and deposition
of sediment in the Spring, the Commission found evidence that

* Based upon the estimate of 329 marketable oysters per bushel and 821 culls
per bushel.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 51

these reports have not been greatly overdrawn. ‘The findings indi-
cate, however, that the grounds do not all suffer to the same extent,
but that the location of the grounds with reference to the mid-bay
channel has much to do with the damage done. The oyster bars
located in or near channels were found to be in better condition in
every way than those located near shore in shallow water. This is
probably due to the fact that the fresh water remains on the beds in
the deeper channels for shorter periods than on the grounds distant
from channels, the effect of the swift currents of rising tides being
such as to replace the fresh water with brackish or salt water for a
time, thus affording short breathing times for the oysters. The rap-
idly moving water in the channels also prevents the deposition of
sediment and carries away any sediment which may have been de-
posited during periods of slack water, while the shallow sluggish
water near shore presents conditions favorable to the deposition of
sediment.

For a detailed account of the actual findings at the examination
stations on the oyster grounds under consideration, reference may
be made to the text of the reports of the survey of Baltimore and
Kent Counties and to the statistical tables immediately preceding
this chapter. These findings indicate that the loss of oysters, as a
result of the Spring freshets of 1909, on Millers island bar was
57%; Tea Tables bar, 55%, and Man O’War Shoal bar, 61%.

DISCUSSION.

It may be seen, by reference to the last column of figures of the
table on page —, that the available product on the Lumps during the
periods when the survey was made was not large, and it is probable
that these grounds were not below their average in productiveness
at these times. Evenif they had been found to be more productive of
small oysters than the bars in other sections of the State, would this
fact furnish any convincing argument in favor of a lax enforcement
of the Cull Law in order that the oysters on the Lumps might be
marketed, when, by such failure to enforce the provisions of the
law for the Lumps, the welfare of the whole public oyster fishery
is thereby jeopardized? Who can know and decide which of the
cargoes of unculled oysters presented for sale in Baltimore have
come from the Lumps and which have come from the natural oyster
bars in other parts of the State waters?

52 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners.

Those who are familiar with the conditions on the natural oyster
bars and are concerned for their conservation and for the develop-
ment of the oyster trade of the State, are almost unanimous in the
opinion that the Cull Law is the most important and efficient instru-
ment which has yet been concewed and enacted for the protection
and conservation of the public oyster fishery. They realize the
great difficulties met with by the State Fishery Force in enforcing
the Cull Law, even when none of the oyster grounds are exempt
from its provisions, and they must therefore look with disfavor
upon any change in jurisdiction which would render the enforce-
ment of the law even more difficult.

There are sections of the bay and tributaries, other than the
Lumps, in which the strict enforcement of the Cull Law at times
works a hardship upon the local oystermen and an injury to the
natural bars over-crowded for the time with cysters, and these sec-
tions might-also profit at such times by a repeal of the Cull Law
as applied to them, but without an enormous increase in the police
force and the corps of inspectors, such a course would amount to a
repeal of the Cull Law for the entire State.

A PROPOSED SOLUTION.

It is neither necessary to repeal the Cull Law or so to modify it
as to make it ineffective, nor to lose the product from the Lumps
and other sections where small oysters over-crowd the natural bars.

Should the general oyster fishing season be made to extend from
October 1st, to April tst., then short seasons of one month each
could be provided, one immediately before the beginning of the gen-
eral season, the other at its close, during which unculled oysters
might be taken from the Lumps and such other sections of the bay
and tributaries which, in the judgment of the Commander of the
State Fishery Force and the Board of Public Works, would be 1m-
proved thereby.

By an adjustment such as this the Cull Law would be made to
apply to all sections alike during the general oyster fishing season
and no one would be the loser or would suffer hardship from its
rigid enforcement. During the short seasons before and aficr the
general season, it would be quite possible to so station the fleet of
police boats that fishing for unculled oysters would be restricted to

~~ WS

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 53

the Lumps and other sections where such fishing had been provided
for.

Two short seasons have been proposed because the oyster canners
will probably demand one in the Spring at the close of the general
season in order that the oysters shall have had all the time possible,
before the Spring freshets set in, in which to grow. Oyster planters,
on the other hand, will profit most by a short season in the Fall for
reasons set forth in the concluding paragraphs.

The best results from oyster planting operations are obtained
when the transplanted oysters are secured from localities in which
the water is not greatly different in its density, or salinity, from
that of the locality to which they are transplanted.

The water over the various widely distributed oyster producing
grounds of Maryland is much more uniform in its salinity dur-
ing the Fall, just at the close of the long dry Summer season, than
it is in the Spring; hence it follows that the work of transplanting
seed oysters from one locality to another should, as a rule, be carried
on in Maryland during the late Fall.

The localities in which the greatest fluctuations in the salinity of
the water take place between Fall and Spring are just those
where the oyster bars become overcrowded with undersized oysters
because of the presence of conditions under which oysters fail to
grow rapidly. These are the localities from which the overstock of
oysters should be removed and to which planters should therefore
be permitted to go in the Fall for their supply of seed oysters.

The oysters of the Upper Bay Lumps section are much less
valuable for planting purposes if transplanted to other growing
grounds in the Spring after they:have been subjected to severe
freshets, but they are very valuable for planting purposes if trans-
planted in the Fall; hence the advisability of setting aside a short
period in the Fall when unculled oysters may be transplanted from
the Lumps and from other sections in which the bars become over-
stocked with small oysters.

——

54 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

QUEEN ANNE'S; COUNTY:

The oyster-producing waters of Maryland situated within the
territorial limits of, and adjacent to, Queen Anne’s County which
will be opened with Queen Anne’s County with the object of leasing
the underlying barren bottoms for the purposes of oyster culture,
include those of that part of the Wye river and Eastern bay situ-
ated above the boundary line between Queen Anne’s and Talbot
Counties; Prospect bay and Kent Island Narrows; Crab Alley
creek; Cox creek; the section of the Chesapeake bay adjacent to
Kent Island; Corsica river and the part of Chester river situated
below the boundary line between Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties.

The natural oyster bars of the section of Chesapeake bay adja-
cent to Queen Anne’s County have been designated for the use of
dredgers, but those in all other waters of the county have been set
aside for the exclusive use of tongmen.

The tongmen of Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties have equal
fishery rights on all of the grounds reserved to the public oyster
fishery of the State in Wye river proper, and its branch south of
Wye Island, and the tongmen of Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties
have equal fishery rights on all of the natural oyster bars in Chester
river.

The bottoms beneath all of these waters which were claimed by
the local assistant for Queen Anne’s County to be productive .of
oysters, aggregating a total area of about 27,922 acres, were surveyed
and examined. The bottoms found to be sufficiently well stocked
with oysters and cultch to justify their reservation to the public
oyster fishery of the State, have been charted within the limits of
98 natural oyster bars, covering 24,721 acres.

The name, date of survey, area, number of corners, present con-
dition and prospective future yield of each oyster bar, is given in
statistical tables on pages ,

The grounds which failed to measure up to the adopted standard
of a natural oyster bar together with other barren bottoms suited
for the purposes of oyster culture, aggregating a total area of about
6,000 acres, will soon be opened for lease.

The table, or rule by which the status of the surveyed and exam-
ined areas was automatically determined is the one printed on page

Da

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 5

wn

14, in which the value of oysters is considered to be sixty cents
per bushel. .

Seven of the lots leased in Queen Anne’s County waters under
former law for the purpose of oyster culture were retained by their
respective lessees under the Haman Oyster Culture Law. The lease
to one of these lots has been declared void, and rents for two others,
amounting to $53.76, are in arrears.

The following table shows the maximum and mean ranges of the
tides as calculated from observations made during the period oc-
cupied by the survey in Queen Anne’s County at the various tide
observation stations. The circulation of water over an oyster
ground and the availability of the oyster food supply to the oysters
upon it is largely dependent upon the rise and fall of the tide and
these observations therefore indicate to some extent the value, for
oyster production, of the various grounds which will be opened for
lease.

Maximum Minimum

Locality. ‘' Period of Observation. Range. Range.
Cliffis|wW hart ss% ...- IUIMES2- SOM NGO Ao see esirek ais 3.10 feet 1.40 feet
Love Point Light..... PUNE OAM Ss A eciea a)sre 2.40 feet SS feet
Bloody -Lointwiishty... Aue.30—OCte Dass scce ae ee 2.70 feet 1.01 feet
Claiborne Wharf..... Aug. 17-31, Oct. 19, Nov. 29.. 3.55 feet 1.29 feet
Ste lichaweleees ce crece « DOCH =I Hz Sete cielo a ctor cae 3.57 feet 1.12 feet

THE WYE RIVER AND MILES RIVER.
(Shown on chart of natural oyster bars No. 32.)

A line about two-thirds of a mile in length, connecting Bennett
Point on the north with the nearest point on the opposite shore,
is considered in this report to mark the mouth of Wye river and to
divide the oyster bottoms of the Wye, from those of Miles river.
Something more than one mile above this line the Wye river divides
into two branches of about equal size, which, on account of the
existing controversy and confusion which has arisen from the use
of Back Wye and Front Wye to designate these branches, it is pro-
posed to call “Branch South of Wye Island” and “Branch West of
Wye Island.”

Oysters grow in the waters of the Wye river and its branch
south of Wye Island to a point about five miles above the mouth of
Wye river proper, and in the branch west of Wye Island
to a point about two and one-half miles above a line connecting the
southernmost point on Wye Island with the nearest point on the

50 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

opposite shore, along which line the waters of this branch are con-
sidered to enter those of the Wye river proper.

At the time of the survey of this section, November and Decem-
ber, the prevailing conditions were such that oysters might have
been grown and fattened on the bottoms situated far above the
limits mentioned above, but the dry period of Fall and early Winter
is the one when the waters of Maryland are nearest ideal for oyster
production. With the inflow of fresh water due to rain fall and
melting snow and ice in the Spring, the upper waters of the tribu-
taries and the bay become too fresh for oysters. The observations
made at the examination stations during the survey showed the
density of the water to be from 1.0142 to 1.0138 at the mouth of
the Wye river, and about 1.0128 over the oyster bars situated far-
thest up its branches.

The part of the Miles river situated within the territorial limits
of Queen Anne’s County is so small and its waters are so closely
associated with those of the Wye river that its oyster grounds are
considered in this report with those of the Wye. The line along
which the waters of Miles river enter those of Eastern bay is con-
sidered by the Commission to be that connecting Bennett Point, at
the mouth of Wye river, with Tilghman’s Point on the Talbot
County shore. Between this line and the line marking the mouth of
Wye river, the course of the Queen Anne’s-Talbot County boundary
line is such that something less than a square mile of Miles river
bottom is thrown within the limits of Queen Anne County, practi-
cally all of which is occupied by Persimmon Tree and Coffee oyster
bars.

In the part of Wye river and its branch south of Wye Island
situated above the Queen Anne’s-Talbot County boundary line, the
area of oyster ground which was surveyed and examined and found
to be sufficiently well stocked with oysters and cultch to justify its
reservation to the Public Oyster Fishery of the State, aggregates
327 acres, and it has been charted and reserved within the limits
of 9 natural oyster bars. In the branch of the Wye river west and
north of Wye Island eight natural oyster bars covering 393 acres
were charted and reserved.

Oyster bars were nowhere found to extend upon the soft bottoms
and precipitous sides of the very deep and very narrow channels
which occupy the central portion of Wye river proper; the oyster-

——s-

ea ee re ee a eee ee ee, ne ee

ey ae ee

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. pi

producing part of its branch south of Wye Island, and the lower
part of its branch west and north of Wye Island. Almost the entire
area of bottoms on either side of the main channels, however, was
found to be occupied or to have been occupied until recently, with
oyster bars. Two small areas only were conceded by the local
assistant to be entirely barren: one on the hard sandy bottom be-
tween Stone Wharf and Hess bars, the other between Hess and
Wye River Middle Ground bars.

Bottoms composed of hard sand nearly everywhere skirt the
shores of the rivers and the oyster bars do not therefore
extend nearer to the shore line than the six-foot depth curve. In
one locality only were oysters found to grow quite to the low-water
mark, that along the southern end of Wye Island. A border of soft
and sticky bottoms of varying width is present on either side of
the mid-river channels, and bottoms of similar character prevail also
in the coves and in the upper parts of both branches of the Wye.
The observed depths of water over the off-shore limits of the oyster
bars in the Wye river proper and its two branches, vary from 48
feet to 15 feet.

Barren and exhausted bottoms suitable for oyster culture aggré-
gating about 65 acres, are available for lease in the branch of the
Wye river south of Wye Island, and about 75 acres in the branch
west and north of Wye Island. In Wye river proper and the part
of Miles river situated within the territorial limits of Queen Anne
County, there are probably no bottoms suitable for growing oysters
which are not occupied by natural oyster bars.

BHASTERN BAY

(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 31 and 32.)

The part of Eastern bay which lies within the territorial limits ot
Queen Anne’s County, i. ¢., the part situated above or north of a line
established by statute in or near the deep water channel to form the
boundary between Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties, is all desig-
nated for the exclusive use of the tongmen who reside in Queen
Anne’s County. The line along which the waters of this part of
Eastern bay enter those of the Chesapeake is considered by the Com-
mission to be that connecting Kent point, on the Queen Anne’s
County shore, with Wade point, on the Talbot County shore. The
lines laid down by the Commission for its own use in distinguish-

58 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

ing the waters of Eastern bay from those of its four large tribu-
taries, namely, Miles river, Prospect bay, Crab Alley bay and Cox
creek, are described in the parts of this report dealing with the
survey of the oyster grounds of these tributaries.

In this section of Eastern bay twelve natural oyster bars, charted
to contain4,680 acres, have beenreserved to the PublicOyster Fish-
ery. Parts of two other bars extend into Eastern bay, namely, Bald
Eagle and Parsons Island, but they are credited to Prospect bay and
Crab Alley bay, in which parts of their areas lie. The two largest
bars of the section, Bugby and Bodkin Shoals, extend to the County
boundary line in the mid-channel and on account of the large supply
of food made available by the swift tidal currents which regularly
sweep over them, they are most favorably situated, and exami-
nations showed both bars to be unusually well stocked with oysters
in excellent condition, although they have been subject to frequent
raids by the serapers from the Talbot County side. The first named
bar occupies the greater part of the extensive sandy shoal formed
betweenthe mouths of Miles river and Prospect bay, while thelatter,
together with three other large oyster bars, from which it has been
distinguished arbitrarily by name only, has been developed upon a
similar and more extensive sandy shoal situated between the mouths
of Crab Alley bay and Cox creek. Each of these shoals is pene-
trated by a deep slough, the beds and sides of which are soft or
sticky, and on which oysters are not continuous. The bars on which
soft bottoms predominate are Prospect Point and Greenwood, in
the Greenwood creek chanriel, and Pine Tree, Bunker Hill and
Brick House Hull bars, in the channel to Cox creek. Patches cf
hard bottom in each of these cases form the more prolific parts,
however, and are probably the centers from which the bars have
originated. Long Point bar occupies the narrow strip of bottom
situated above the mouth of Long Point creek, between Kent
Island and the Cox creek channel, of which the part next to the
channel at the lower end only is soft. The bottoms in this section
on which oysters were found as a continuous bar, were seldom cov-
ered by water to depths greater than 18 feet, but oysters were found
in lumps beyond the edges of the shoals on the muddy bottoms at
depths as great as 35 feet.

Observations on the density of the water at examination stations
indicate that it varied between 1.0136 and 1.0144 during the Fall
and early Winter months.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 59

The following table gives the results of observations of the tides
made during the survey :

Maximum Mean

Locality. Period of Observation. Range. Range.
Claiborne Wharf..... Aug. 17-31, Oct. 19, Nov. 29.. 3.55 feet 1.29 feet
Bloody Lomi uy Elis te As OO 60 OCU as <1.) ors1o) «ores cis 2.70 feet 1.01 feet
St Michaels... .25..... WeCwoaliiee maski meres os creaaaks 3.57 feet 1.12 feet

The results of the survey indicate that about all of the bottoms
suited to the production of oysters in this section are, or have been
until recently, occupied by natural oyster bars. The bottoms not re-
served to the public fishery which are or can be made valuable for
_ oyster culture, aggregate about 550 acres. They are located along
the Kent Island shore at three places and along the inner edge of

Coffee bar.

PROSPECT BAY AND KENT ISLAND NARROWS.
(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars, Nos. 29 and 32.)

The waters of Prospect bay and Kent Island Narrows separate
the mainland of Queen Anne’s County from Kent Island and connect
the waters of Eastern bay with those of Chester river. The limits
of Prospect bay on the south are considered in this report to be
formed by a line connecting the southernmost part of Piney Neck
at the mouth of Greenwood creek, with the southernmost point of
Parsons Island. The line then continues across Parsons Island
Narrows to the Kent Island Shore, where it ends at Normans
Point. Kent Island Narrows is the name in general use for the
short narrow channel which runs through the marsh between the
waters of Prospect bay and Chester river. Within these waters
seventeen natural oyster bars, covering 4,041 acres of bottom, have
been charted and reserved to the Public Oyster Fishery, fifteen of
which are credited to Prospect bay and two to the narrows. Oys-
ters were found during the survey on almost the entire area of the
section, the exceptions being the narrow beach of hard, shifting
sand found along the greater part of the shore line; patches of the
same material which cap a few shoals and sand bars, and the small
areas occupied by the short mid-stream channels in which the
bottoms are too soft to support oysters. In some localities the
character of the bottom is such that oysters grow entirely to low
water mark, and at such places mean low-water mark has been
made the limit of the natural bars. Continuous deep water channels

60 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

are absent from the upper part of Prospect bay. The bottom is
undulating and the water over it varies in depth from 2 to 18 feet.
In the lower part, the oyster-producing bottoms were found to be
rather closely confined to the hard and sticky areas situated between
the 6 foot and 18 foot depth curves, although the deep water limits
of the bars were often found to extend to and upon the soft bot-
toms at the edge of the channels over which depths as great as 27
feet were noted.

The bottoms in Kent Island Narrows are everywhere hard and,
from the railroad bridge to the point about three-fourths mile
above the opening of the narrows into Chester river, they are well
stocked with oysters. The depth of water over the oyster-producing
bottoms varies from 3 to 15 feet and currents having a velocity of
nearly two miles per hour were observed.

The position of barren bottoms with reference to productive areas
is such in some cases that it was considered advisable to include all
or a part of the former within the limits of natural bars, thus the
barren channel below Saw Mill creek has been included within Sazw
‘Mill Creek bar, the upper part of Cabin creek channel has been
charted with Cabin Creek bar and the upper part of the main chan-
nel forms a part of the area reserved within Prospect bar.

During the period occupied by the survey of this section (the
latter part of August) observations showed the water over the
oyster grounds to have a density varying from 1.0078 to 1.0090.
The waters of the section of Chester river which is in immediate
connection with Prospect bay through the narrows, had a density
varying from 1.0062 to 1.0089 during June and July, and in Novem-
ber and December a density as high as 1.014 was observed in the
waters of the part of Eastern bay which is in wide communication
with the lower part of Prospect bay. Observations are lacking,
but it is probable that, on account of the Spring freshets, the density
of these waters may be reduced to 1.005 or perhaps lower during
the month of April. The indications are therefore that the waters
in Prospect bay vary in their density during the year from 1.005
LO.1 O84: :

The area of bottoms not included within the limits of the natural
oyster bars of the section which is thought to be suitable, and will
soon be available for lease, for oyster culture aggregates about
475 acres.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 61

CRAB ALLEY BAY.
(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 31 and 32.)

Crab Alley bay occupies the broad waters included between Crab
Aliey neck and Cox neck. Its waters are considered in this report
to be further limited on the east by the line connecting Norman
point with the southernmost point on Parsons Island, and to be
separated from Eastern bay by lines connecting the southernmost
point on Parsons Island, the northernmost point of Bodkin Island
and the southeastern extremity of Cox neck.

Seven natural oyster bars covering 2,165 acres, have been charted
and reserved to the Public Oyster Fishery. Parsons Island bar as
charted has about one-half its area within the limits of Eastern bay,
but the entire bar is credited in this report to Crab Alley bay.

Bottoms of hard sand underlie about half of the reserved area.
They are found along the eastern and western shores of the bay and
in extensive flats above Bodkin Island and south and east of John-
sons Islands. Continuousoyster rocks were found only in connection
with these hard bottoms, the most extensive and prolific being the
one situated west of the sand bar and the wide beach around Nor-
man point. This rock forms a part of the area included within the
limits of the oyster bars charted as Norman’s Fine Eyes and Crab
Alley Lumps. Probably more than three-fourths of the soft and
sticky bottoms which are found in the off shore or channel portion
of the bay are barren, but the distribution of numerous well stocked
oyster lumps upon these bottoms is such that it was considered
proper to include practically the whole within the limits of the ad-
jacent oyster bars. At one place only, that between Bodkin Island
bar andParsons Island bar, was the channel found to be entirely
barren.

The depths of water over the oyster bars on the hard bottoms vary
from 3 feet to 18 feet, and over the soft areas from 12 feet to 27
feet. The density of the water at examination stations during
August varied from 1.0084 to 1.0087, and during November from
iOi28' to. T-O14:.

About 30 acres of the grounds pointed out for survey and ex-
amination were found to be exhausted or badly depleted of oysters
and cultch. In addition to this area a few acres of barren bot-
1om suited to the requirements of oyster culture may be found in

62 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

the lower part of Crab Alley creek and in the small cove above
Johnson’s Islands.
COX CREEK.
(Shown on chart of natural oyster bars No. 31.)

All of the waters situated north of the broken line connecting
the following points are considered to belong to Cox creek, namely,
Turkey Point, at the southeastern end of Cox Neck,the points form-
ing the northwestern and southeastern extremities of the chain of
small islands in the vicinity of Turkey point, the points at the north-
eastern and southwestern ends of the small island at the entrance
of the small unnamed creek south of Shipping creek, and the point
on Kent Island at the mouth of this creek on the south. As thus
defined, the creek expands abruptly at its mouth into a wide bay
into which three small creeks empty from the west and north,
through a common mouth, none of which are productive of oysters.
‘Into the upper part of Cox creek two other tributaries enter also
from the west, Warehouse and Thompsons creeks, the lower por-
tions of which contain natural oyster grounds.

The wide and almost direct connection of these waters with
those of the Chesapeake bay through Eastern bay, gives to them a
salinity favorable for the growth of oysters to a point nearly four
miles above the mouth of the creek, and productive oyster beds
were found to occupy practically all of the underlying bottoms.
These productive oyster grounds, aggregating a total area of 1,730
acres, have been charted and reserved to the Public Oyster Fishery
of the State within the limits of fourteen natural bars.

The muddy bottom in the middle of the channel of the wide lower
part of Cox creek is too soft to support oysters, but this barren area
is not extensive and it has been included within the limits of Ringold
Middleground and Batts Neck bars. In this region the hard, sandy
beaches along the shores are wide and constitute the greater part of
the bottoms upon which oysters were found to grow. The strips of
soft, sticky oyster-bearing bottoms which are sandwitched between
the sandy bottoms and the soft barren channel are here very nar-
row, but in the upper narrower part of the creek they unite (the
channel itself becoming productive of oysters) and toward the
shore they expand until practically all of the area occupied by natu-
ral bars is thus constituted. In the upper part of the creek the
beaches of sand become very narrow and at some places they are ~

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 63

entirely displaced by soft bottoms. At a few points oysters were
found to grow quite to the low-water mark, but usually the produc-
tive grounds ended at the 3 to 5 foot depth curve. The greatest
depths of water observed over the oyster bars varied from 18 feet,
near the mouth of the creek, to Io feet in the upper part. A channel
practically disappears from the creek opposite the mouth of Ware-
house creek, and depths of water greater than 8 feet were not ob-
served at the examination stations on Pond Marsh bar. The bot-
toms in the lower portions of Thompsons and Warehouse creeks
which have been included within the limits of Thompsons and
Island Cove bars are practically all sticky or soft, and considerable
portions of them are barren, the oysters growing chiefly in lumps.
In the part of Cox creek just south and west of Batts Neck a con-
siderable area of hard, sandy bottom is found, but the part along
the Kent Island shore where oysters were found is sticky.

During the period occupied by the survey of these grounds,
October and November, very little if any fresh water was finding its
way into Cox creek from the land and the density of the water over
the oyster beds was uniform and the variation in density due to the
rise and fall of the tide was small—1.0136-1.0144.

By reference to the table of oyster bars on page 71 it may be
seen that the bars found to be in the most productive condition are
those over which the best circulation of water is maintained, and
that the bars situated on bottoms where good currents are not
present were invariably poorly stocked.

Two pieces of bottom suitable for the purposes of oyster culture
of about 50 acres each will be subject to lease.

CHESTER RIVER.

(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 29 and 30.)

Practically all of the bottoms situated between the 6-foot depth
curve and the edge of the deep water channei on the Queen Anne’s
County side of Chester river, from Love Point to the mouth of
Southeast creek, a stretch of nearly twenty-five miles, were pointed
out to the Commission by the local assistant for survey and exami-
nation. Two breaks only were conceded by oystermen to exist in
this long belt of oyster bottoms; one near the Kent Island Narrows,
the other near the head of the river. The average width of this
belt from Love Point to the mouth of Corsica river is fully one-

64 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

third of a mile. Above this point its width varies from one-fourth
to one-eighth mile.

Almost the entire river shore is skirted by very hard, sandy bot-
toms, and at no place were oysters found to grow at the low-water
mark and usually not nearer to the shore than the six-foot depth
curve. The spread of oysters to the hard bottoms in shallow water
is probably prevented by the shifting of sand caused by breaking
waves. Beginning usually near the six-foot depth curve, the oyster
grounds, unless depleted or exhausted, were found to extend as con-
tinuous bars to the soft muddy bottom near the edge of the mid-
river channel. Many of the bars were found to extend for some
distance upon very soft bottoms, in which cases the bars were not
continuous, but the oysters were found in lumps.

The area of the bottoms which were found in a condition such as
to justify its reservation to the Public Oyster Fishery of the State,
has been charted within the limits of 21 natural bars and aggre-
gates 4,723 acres. Between adjacent bars in several cases no natural
dividing line was apparent, and the lines by which they are divided
on the charts have been arbitrarily drawn. The names given to the
bars usually were those in use among oystermen to designate some
parts at least of the grounds so designated on the charts. In five
cases oyster bars which nominally belong on the Queen Anne’s County
side of the river, extend more than halfway across and are cut by
the Queen Anne’s-Kent County boundary line into two parts, namely,
Ferry Point, Piney Point, Sheep, Hollyday and Northeast bars.

The observations made during the survey upon some of the physi-
cal conditions known to affect the production of oysters have been
recorded in the report covering the Kent County section of the
river.

The area of bottoms in Chester river suitable for the purposes
of oyster culture which will be opened for lease with Queen Anne’s
County, is about 1,500 acres, of which 1,375 acres have been pro-
ductive within recent years. This bottom is well distributed along
the shore in parcels varying in size from 3 acres to 400 acres.

CORSICA RIVER.
(Shown on chart of natural oyster bars No. 30.)

In Corsica river, productive oyster grounds were not found above
the mouth of Emory’s creek, and this seems to be the limit beyond

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. 65

which it would be unwise to attempt to grow oysters. In the part
of the river below the mouth of Emory’s creek, which is two miles
in length and about one-half mile in width, five natural oyster bars
covering 153 acres were charted and reserved to the Public
Oyster Fishery. Holton Point bar also is situated partly on bottoms
in the mouth of Corsica river, but as more than two-thirds of the bar
lies in Chester river waters, it was-credited to Chester river. The
three small bars in the upper part of the river, Posswm Point,
Ship Point and Earl’s Cove bar, are badly depleted, as may be seen
by reference to the table on page 73, and it is a question of a short
time only when they will be exhausted and fit only for the purposes
of oyster culture. The cultch with which they are poorly stocked
is not in a condition to collect spat and very few small oysters were
to be found. The stock on these bars consisted mainly in very
old oysters, deeply embedded in the bottom. Soft bottoms pre-
vail onPossum Point bar, but the greater part of the areas cov-
ered by Ship Point and Earl’s Cove bars are sandy. Grass grows on
the in-shore part of Earl’s Cove bar. The two larger bars situated
in the lower half of the river were found in good condition, both
as to their stock of cultch and small oysters. Their bottoms are
composed mainly of sticky and soft, sandy mud.

On June 16, 1909, the water over the bars varied in density from
1.0046 to 1.006.

The bottoms suitable and available for oyster culture in Corsica
river cover about thirty acres.

_ CHESAPEAKE BAY.
GROUNDS DESIGNATED FOR THE USE OF DREDGERS.
(Shown on charts of natural oyster bars Nos. 29 and 31.)

The section of the Chesapeake bay situated adjacent to Queen
Anne’s County which will be opened with the territorial waters of
Queen Anne’s County for the purpose of leasing underlying bar-
ren bottoms for oyster culture, is included between the Kent Island
shore line and the line marking the mid-bay channel from the
Talbot-Queen Anne’s County boundary line in Eastern bay, extended,
to the Queen Anne’s-Kent County boundary line in Chester river,

66 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

extended. It is technically described and defined in the report*
entitled “Survey of Oyster Bars of Queen Anne’s County,” pre-
pared by Captain C. C. Yates in co-operation with the Shell Fish
Commission and published by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

This portion of the bay contains 6,056 acres of productive oyster
grounds, all of which have been charted and reserved to the Public
Oyster Fishery within the limits of five natural bars. The area
claimed by the local assistant to be oyster-producing and accordingly
surveyed and examined, covers an uninterrupted strip of bottom
having an average width of more than a half-mile, beginning at
Bloody Point Bar Light House and extending to the edge of the
sand bar one mile N. E. of Love Point Light House, a distance of
nearly eighteen miles.

Almost the entire area of this oyster ground was found to be
confined to the hard bottoms of the very wide sandy beach which
everywhere skirts the bay shore of Kent Island. Oysters grow
quite near to the shore at Bloody Point and in the vicinity of Broad
creek, but the in-shore limits of the productive bottoms at other
places do not approach nearer low-water mark than about one-
fourth mile, and often not nearer than a half mile. The depth of
water seems to have much to do with the spread of oysters upon
hard, sandy bottoms in exposed areas, such as that along the Kent
Island shore, and the depth limit of the oysters in this, as in many
other sections, was found to be near the 5 to 8-feet depth curves.
In waters shallower than this, sandy bottoms are frequently shifted
and disturbed by breaking waves, and the formation of oyster com-
munities is thereby prevented. The off-shore limits of the oyster
bars extend a short distance beyond the hard, sandy beach, upon
the sticky and soft muddy bottom of the bay channel and are cov-
ered by water varying in depth from 25 to 50 feet, but the greater
part of the bottoms on which oysters grow (perhaps 80% ) is hard.

The bottoms found to be entirely exhausted or not sufficiently
productive to justify their reservation to the public oyster fishery,
aggregate an area of about 3,200 acres. At some places the outer

* Copies of this report, which includes a set of charts showing the location
and extent of the natural oyster bars and the boundary lines of county waters
and waters adjacent to Queen Anne’s county, may be secured from the Superin-
tendent of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

i

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 67

border only of the surveyed area failed to measure up to the natural
oyster-bar standard of productiveness, at other places it was the
in-shore border, and in three localities entire sections of the sur-
veyed strip were rejected.

The water over the oyster grounds varied in density during the
period occupied by the survey (parts of August and September)
from 1.0098 to-1.0108. Observations made at other times and in
other places indicate that the water over this section probably fluctu-
ates in density during years of ordinary rainfall from about 1.005
to 1.012.

Observations made at Bloody Point Bar Light House on the rise
and fall of the tides, from August 3 to October 5, 1909, indicate a
maximum range of the tide in this locality to be 2.7 feet and a mean
range of 1.01 foot. At Love Point Light House the maximum
range between July 9th and August 4th was 2.4 feet, the mean
range, .88 foot.

USSUONELS.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Comm

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MMISSIONELS.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Co

72

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‘panuyuog—KINNOO S.ANNV NAGNO AO SUVA UALSAO TVYOLYN

73

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

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74 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

FIELD AND OFFICE WORK.

In the tables which follow a detailed report 1s made of the work
carried on during the year 1909 by the field party of the Shell Fish
Commission, and statistics are compiled to show the results of the
combined operations of Federal Bureaus and the State Commission.

ANCHORAGES OF HOUSEBOAT “OYST9R” FROM JANUARY 1 TO

DECEMBER 31, 1909.

Baltimore—

AtsS ped dem’ s Wart oo ioloe, vie; elaicla She iererale) wheels koh eletere January 1 to April 13,
Kent County—

IG IEEE Siew Oree gad dogogagaauogucoscd soc cdoor April 14 to May 25,

OlifismWihart) Chester Eversciecssisetetelelelcllkete cnet aiencrat ors May 26 to June 30,
Baltimore—

SpeddentsmWobairrtcyers-g-)otaeicnstenehe chee el teens cusiove eieneteierenserarctta July 1 to July 5,
Queen Anne’s County—

ESM tN LO WS etece wis 5 oer cleiCae epsheualin ke sascer ache rare ny saetlcleleete July 6 to July 21,
Kent County—

Rocksballe ‘Swan Greekae cierercysicusucie lejsiciorsvehenel ie elley eleastens July 22 to August 4,

Wrortom! Oree lk eccccckocsieiene ox ters iste pate en varton euler sunlierevotare August 5 to August 12,

Queen Anne’s County.
Kent INALLO WS! eee che coolers tone aerate aicvehe ohesalielisuste ren onenee August 13 to August 27,

Talbot County—

Haddoway’s Cove, Poplar Island Narrows........ August 28 to August 30,
Poplar sland yEarporcrccc cosecveieele eictieieloree August 31 to September 21,
Dunnis Cover HaLrrisv Greeks cue jeiele ereiee eet September 22 to October 15,
Glaiporne HASternV EADY. ae celle cl elieleherctels.cis okcioieyels October 16 to October 28,
Mil candies Oreeksavaccucier iets chercie stekels| dievohe seeks) ore October 29 to November 30,
St Michaels Miles ARV EIS srs leienelekelistelefels oye cts December 1 to December 20,

Baltimore—
Speddenm?SsWiiHarkescccns erecstteuereter vets) tein oot ane December 21 to December 31,

1909.

1909.
1909.

1909.

1909.

1909.
1909.

1909.

1909.
1909.
1909.
1909.
1909.
1909.

190%

75

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78, Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

REPORT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PROMOTION OF
OYSTER CULTURE.

The oyster lands in the following counties and in the sections of
the Chesapeake bay adjacent thereto, not reserved by the State as
public oyster or crab fisheries, have been opened by the Board of
Shell Fish Commissioners for lease for the purposes of oyster cul-
ture on the dates which appear in the table below:

| End of Period of
| End of Period of | End of Period of | Priorlty in Leas-

County Date of Filing Right of Appeal | Priority in Leas- | ing for Oystermen
: Charts of From Result of | ing for Owners of | and Date When
Oyster Bars. | Survey. Land. All Citizens May

Lease Lands.

Anne Arundel |June 20, 1907. | Oct. 20, 1907.. | Feb. 20, 1908..} Aug. 20, 1908.

Somerset ....|July 1, 1908...) Nov. 1, 1908..|March 1, 1909.) Sept. 1, 1909.
Wicomico ....|/Dee. 1, 1908..|April 1, 1909..|Aug. 1, 1909..|Feb. 1, 1910.
Worcester ... {April 12, 1909.) Aug. 12, 1909. |Dec. 12, 1909. .| June 12, 1910.

Calvert ios Dec, 14, 1909..; April 14, 1910.| Aug. 14, 1910. |Feb. 14, 1911.

The bottoms available for oyster culture in the remaining seven
‘tide-water counties will be opened for lease as soon as the result of
the surveys of the oyster grounds can be tabulated and the charts
of the natural oyster bars constructed and printed, the last probabiv
not later than December 31, 1911.

The number of applications which have been received for leases
to lands for the purposes of oyster culture; the number of leases
which have been granted; the area and location of each leased lot;
the number and location of leased lots on which rents have not been
paid ; the number and location of lots to which the leases have been
cancelled; the number, area and location of the lots to which leases
are now valid and the name and address of each lessee, are given
in a series of statistical tables on pages 79 to 92. ;

The number of lessees of oyster lands and the area leased for the
purposes of oyster culture reported herein, is clearly no indication
of the interest in oyster culture which exists in Maryland nor a
measure of the success which may be attained through the present
plan of developing the industry. The opportunity to lease lands
for oyster culture has been offered to all classes of citizens in four

> an

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 79

counties only and in one of these counties, Worcester, no lands have
been leased, although it is a well known fact that oyster culture is
being successfully carried on in Worcester County waters on a fairly
extensive scale. The Oyster Culture Law, in its present form, fails
to provide means of compelling compliance with its leasing provis-
ions on the part of individuals who use oyster lands belonging to
the State, and the oyster planters of Worcester County and many
planters in other counties, are taking advantage of this imperfection
in the law. The Commission has recommended* that the law be so
amended as to make it impossible for a citizen to appropriate and
use oyster lands belonging to the State without full compliance
with all the provisions of the law.

Many citizens of the State have been deterred from entering the
field of oyster culture also because of the failure of the law to grant
privileges to oyster planters known to be essential to success in
oyster culture, and not until these privileges have been granted and
all of the lands of the State suitable and available for the p-urpeses
of oyster culture have been opened for lease, will it be time to judge
of the possibilities of oyster culture in Maryland.

APPLICATIONS FOR LEASES. * *

TO LANDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF OYSTER CULTURE RECEIVED BY
THE BOARD OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS TO
SEPTEMBER 30, 1910, FROM:

Residents Under

Residents Under Pecan aw,

Lessees Under. Present Law to

Former Law. Dec. 15, 1908. Sane Last
eport.

Counties. No. Acres. No. Acres. No. Acres. No. Acres.
Anne Arundel...... 26 112.20 63 358.75 25 170.00 114 640.95
Jaeulicibaavon seve, vers Ge COs d caw Ma Ae eee GEIS Sete abe eigisiels Noe Wi srerealene Mee ate tt
@aliviert« aiacuis dee 93 3238.46 DOA ee 23 192.70 116 516.16
@harleseee sas cee. 733. AN Ses One: Cerin 1 10.00 24 115.65
Worchester 2302-102 165 “(6:35 ack du mlrererete Pepe ae 168 776.35
GME ral ve carol er ceo waar 1 De alerts) 1 3.00 Bick ol NEA a Br ere Oste
Queen Anne’s...... 15 61.87 Me irpioomart Bas Capea ei Pe fo mw Gleer
SOMETSEU woo side sole 301 1526.37 40 350.00 45 487.00 886 2313.37
Ria ViaIny Sisevans sani 73 250.46 Die les OO) ay 2B OT0) 79 286.46
AMEN OY0y Fe ee eee Pi creat 84 365.35 2 10.00 tide ae eleva RR 86 375.35
WiHeOMICO) Job cise ll B4 BO Be Rratang 16 160.00 87 506.70
Wioreesten Hi ta8 ito Syaatene Ae

ERO talisseen tase 853 3885.16 109 734.75 118 992.70 1075 5613.61

* See page 105.

* * When, in 1906, opportunity was given to the 4009 holders of oyster lots un-
der former law to retain their lands under the present law, 853 only made appli-
cation and 472 finally executed new leases with the State.

8o Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

LEASES GRANTED.**
TO LANDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF OYSTER CULTURE BY THE BOARD
OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1910.

Residents Under Residents Under

Lessees Under PresentiLaw io Present Law

Former Eaw. Dec. 15. 19 8 Since Last
s Report.

Counties. No. Acres No. Acres. No. Acres. No. Acres.
Anne Arundel...... 18 70.95 27 1389.13 19 57.50 54 267.58
BaAlLuiMOTe= ke clever Sel Price eee Stent cheer RR EP Bese e
Calvert ee 59 226.61 2 6.00 61 232.61
GQharles? = sa sgnacse 15 58.65 Sl goaae ; BES Ais 15 58.65
Worcehester® 3.26265 SO). Si2eb2 Bie: NEUG Ge Sp ate ee 80 372.52
IN eT te Pay ater oe 1 5.00 eet re em aren Per ciessieaves 1 5.00
Queen Anne’s*..... Te 27.39 See PLT Noon Saha Ob siatorens ts ia 27.39
NOMEES GE ase mene 190 946.88 CaO eG 53 494.00 243 1440.88
Sta Miaisy2 Se ane oor eel SHS as ars eet owe siete 35 124.41
Mal Ot sass seats een ee 48. 195.77 tea) oS Ade Se Mobeni 48 195.77
WVCOMCOM sss 19 89.12 Sa eae ties 17 165.00 36 254.12
WORCESTER): eee ae

PE ALO LAS 2a eA set 472 2117.30 Par. lee) te: Si 722350 580 2978.93

** Five leases, in addition to the above, have been granted under the present
law—two in Anne Arundel County and three in Somerset County—which have
not been signed by the applicant and returned to the office to be recorded.

*Barren bottoms not opened for lease for the purposes of oyster culture.

LESSEES IN ARREARS WITH RENT *
FOR THE USH OF OYSTER LANDS, SEPTEMBER 30, 1910.

'4 Years in 3 Years in 2 Years in

Arrears. Arrears. Arrears. Total.

Counties. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount. No. Amount.
Anne Arundel ...... a heh airs 1 60.00 6 $282.32 7 $342.32
BaltIMOLE se.) 01s) aye Ase ae ds Sets ae cee eve Tete
Wr alivientzeneret acne 3 ¢ 89.00 4945.71 il 474.30 24 709.01
Charlese eee ote ee oe 4 180.00 5 151.44 9 StoH ats:
Dorchester ...... lal 560.00 20 - 922.50 NG, 601.00 48 2083.50
D EGCSS 0 eae eer UM et a tk eh A ake aft CIES Ae SHES Ai xe dante
Queen Anne’s .... =. a hctena's a EN 2 53.76 Pe 53.76
Somerset-c..2 Gene Kinee ll) 40 1845.00 WS). 2026250) 1345 eb adoro
Srna eras ono db 50.00 4 113.40 5 85.40 8 248.80
Mab Ot area ieere chase Sr e 205-0 if 19.62 3 393.12 19 616.04
WaCOMICOM et eae ol 0-00, py laleta4 010) 6 210.00 ate 495.00
WiOrGesten ceive 2 cee Aistegte sa sees OE sveteiote
Totals.2 520.4. 739 $1824.40 77 $3421.23 147 $4977.70 2638 $10223.33

* The leases held by all of these lessees might have been canceled by the Board
of Shell Fish Commissioners, in accordance with provisions of Section 98, but
since the cancellation of a lease under existing law does not prevent the lessee
from continuing to use the land for the purposes of oyster culture, and since
the law in its present form withholds from lessees certain rights and privileges
the exercise of which are recognized to be essential to success in oyster culture,
the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners has refrained from exercising its power
to cancel leases, believing that the Oyster Culture Law will ultimately be so
perfected as to encourage oyster culture, and that many of the lessees now in
arrears with rents will then remit the same and continue to co-operate with
the State in developing an industry in oyster culture on our unproductive oyster
lanes.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 81

LEASES CANCELED* TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1910.

Counties. Number. Acres.
AnnerArund clare cit terete ok eis cece 6 22k
TS AGAIN OLS cate oie eae eco rircaa cas Scie ons Par ALE
(ORVRRE Oa Gaaid Bp Oee LS CES AeEe REO ee 2 8.07
Carles eeepy merits citar Cik eee ne 3 10
IDOLCHESTER A tn mio ers lorena ve RCE aeons eet 8 38
TRENT Ges enc abet a Mun hoe a ae, Se es Ra sees
QucenwANNe SM acc Riis eke es ao en eae 1 5
YON TAETESTENE hs Seg Reece eS Be 5 Soe ee a 23 115
Sie May! Sivsevy pacar epee ea aGioNe cider cites 5 16.10
RAD OER eee a a eee or io kainic 8 29.77
WEL CONTI COR sty ie ee eee ono eck ae
IWIOLCESLER Het eke er Peter et oecon sree rche

ALOE WS aos BAIS CIEE Cit Gr HO ERS eae 56 244.69

..* The leases in all of these cases were canceled at the request of the lessees
themselves.

LEASES IN FORCE SEPTEMBER 30, 1910.

Counties. Number. Acres.
PAUTTA PACTS TING OM Sa tetera gas aney cree a5. ce: leas orca elon clini chs 48 234.37
SZ DEGIIT OREN Besta tersvcinre ar theatre Meucnoideaiote Lier okereretene teks = one
CCE AV ELSE Se cies ts CHa, Se ACEC HOTS DIS On ep are ee 59 224.54
COW PETE ES Neate aes ees CPO gates eaceciie SRICAR te et Came a 12 48.65
DOLCheESteneA serra coors ete lanes 71 340.92
TESTOR See Src havent mcr cca ieee se LL Negi ee Re 4 ail 5
BiuvEeem PAMNMES nc aerciclel cramer niercuar earelee te ee ieehe 6 22.39
SOM GrSEE A Se ches cteteret eee ee ee eee ee cote aa DO) ees
SGIMIBIIVISS Ten taiehd Fa Selon Si ctshotate aiete oral oiatera 30 104.31
ANAND Ger oes fetes natty art ateuse ners hoe ore os heats Mee 40 166.09
LWA COMIC O Saas chegers cook Pa oe couche. sia ot) o eae 36 254.12
NVORCESECInc, eri ette a raPoR AS eetre oteie ale iord oakecotne Wise

POH ae! chasstecarstoremtoticicte watine slate eke os oss 424 2732.89

82 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF LESSEES.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.

Name. Address.
IBATMeS: METS TMG ier. acl aie sievsvelc/ehecesevexer HAST OR He ci otctaicretotcrexererereesuaterorenere
SC lliS re OSspedereneuelerciey eke cteloueraie) eieleieleyesesls ANMANOMS cies Miteeievere cioreteteeneion
VATE G COMM sere carezeie vate catahetes cholencnctcley aipelfaite ATITVAPONMSH Vetere enercwvel ccahsietele eictoraieke
Clarle, SWalter Rie iecctsis scecers shee aa eter ens ATIMAPOLISE A slate on vereaie, chinetere terre
DAWSON Hat Wee cretersiatershersiticlorelercloleielotckerace MER YOON 20S ieisteettholereicletstoteeumtcon ieee
Eriemelin Marcie cA sere. sic cre visilessicseret oi ots AMNAPOLIS Staite cite olor one ceom ete
Hirvemel: @harles VAtte sictece cers 2 clave rerekeie ANNAPOLIS Eee aoe e rec eeae
Biniemel ay Magee Te AN veretets.<v<tale ches clepeus stele ANON HOO WING 55.5.0. bcos > Hodedoos
SP AZION (SSI eicio chelate rerenchore susie shei te aeoene HAStDORE thease sees stb es titaneretoreye
Wrvemel Mae Sie was cic cilfos ols sce, syeteissalelet ATIMANOLIS 4 Sisicnc sretelateons atecrareioieene
Buieznre tse Miarsy aA reveyere aie slele ol eielcrsieyei ols W CSEMINSTER 2S sisi sje os eveyone
IMAC DIP SUS Mere Cod pay 05 0bIGO.< WieStMUINSteMr aie /./.)okeue sierete sree serctes
Giddings} DlZabe thy. av. +) ai-p- Aleoteic)='siei AMMADOISH QVAR Nh iasteretoreinite oreheebecns
GOEEP WANSOMUGrarecc:aistereitis cle leseieparorcuerecal ake ATMAPOLISE or. 012 is vis hovers eee
laity Oleh IY Sa ydeau cboadaonu oO. Shady Sid@acstc.c. - 5 -seveiees
Hopkins, Oswald B....... Wee ota oveusuolete Shad ysSide@xtcier s.\ehl ole sehen
leeway. (Ol IMS 5 Og oou bob onan do eou0S Shady iSiGieis 5 cyavens tustio ss tore hiciensroenne
Sekar AWaUlaabie Goadaacaoucansooo uc Mastporite Ceieiksks ake ele 6 heereetets
18 (ayoyoVetes! IDES ING AR ew A GamooeiS CU OC Baltimore wae Ae wrcis wattaratovennorenore
Kerdelh PAG elimalienier cccterevevers a) cuctel crete sie Baltimore eae i. eves ia ekdn everstenctonehs
GIG CS] aEL ern ygene aictatelavorstoistelsiorszeketelefeneronee BalGimore: Ferree scones aiastapesteneneiote
KOCH VCMASING RA aielalercte sci eye tenstuleuelieisiene VASE ORTS repute ratte) ssa te crarebavovene etre
Tipper; WMred erick WU eyjaeciets clereialereliercvers IAMIVADOLIS Via hele siasetsls aco; atcorektotencus
WATSON CHATS 5). tsaccie sae a ecsvoustes ers lenens Shady Nid Gir sas ces c eiersaeeire aleve
Warsonse © HaArlesyereseuelets aieleiiei- ial: Wuons phadyaSider capita semis ontouer
WAY SOM ss CHARLES ei srore veces seis eens crelevehsnsierare Shady" Sidens sj wvsersie volo torevetere
TU OL CMSA. Us See ie pauses rene: save gzarehe chem roe oven Baltimore ie a iets oereroers eres
Bowman, James! Here ccieisciecines ATMAPOLISICY. opt ateroieiec se sige eer
Masons (Randolph® Bric scrersistaricleretelencie IN ASTD ORT, eisaye Mntchole puatercimapeeere
Mati CMa Sy sHlac ey cncrereraataereuerercioverenereiiene ANNAPOLIS 8 cco ewer
Martin: gIinOse Ware cuscerwen soles autre: ATIMAPOLIS: creteucre so sectiuacoy teens
Melvin i\Geos We siciratelo stale ccaveve othe rherers ANMAPONS' > /<pcicctsko.s sue. clevochevontetee
Mielivimir Geos, IN. Warare whi voustaretelioversienseevske ete ANNAPOLIS is. SAS eek eels eahuepereioee
Miurier ays slViairy el. Sis ersltaparsy ares teohersyaye ones Cumberstone) sist... rs sole erorere
INOWiel lA Wants 1G crs asiesteierevontere cukenansrs syonrs Shady 4Sid@ ne. siecetoumatereners
INOWellSWime AG, -rchecieteters cevers.otcreretene exerts Shady Sides. aeesisieteveneteeiee B Ato
Pitchers Viarilad an Groce ecteterjatceneienels AMNADO]ISH Fe taste eteie.s elere cee
S'DUNMGEES PSV Ee ed wavered acer aueuevenete ve tepetler sis ae AMMA POVIS Cy o/oeAe ott cvereders waaketretere
Smith; SAMUCI Ee Msg teialanenet tenet swate Shady (Side wos. Aes ee eaeieens
Stevens; pvester My te wecc <lcsera cient cheretoners Baltimore: aitsiavceuelsciee.6 serene
Wille: Vyaillains S72). teen ce cuchanel eheler arereearets SHAY Side ie sears otevelesctsvonctecoei ciate
Wilder Herdinandirrvyeciielsete ciskersasiciels Shadya Side saeco NE ae
Walker Oe ohbachools ba adeta ton orcedous Shatly "Side \c/ilaecretee ote cetee octets
Williams ss @h asi bers roe cpseaichelateteiecareleicere ATIMADOLISG cates ereuevs is oo ekorornnene
WTS oH RY by tioteretorel aceflotelioeye erekavereeeys Shady sSidese aie cues space etacieree
Wal Pars VIMO sy Hye cha crete salevcist ct eteleuciauevoleasrer ANMARMOIIS., (F525 Here eotere bteheetee
Womble, P. M...... a folhare aye taelarey ovate lords IBaltintones seis cret cine ie eiels ene
Fame WAT alee obese aleve caste onosiateioe ane Galla way nerchuki sun ce velstele citer tts

1.0513 ee ee eR CUR on il eT eI COTO NOGA TG OO ado ad

1.25-

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2.58.

*

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 83

CALVERT COUNTY.

Name. Address. Acres.
FANGELSONs CHATICS We/cnieye eiehencisoete saterele) oie POLOMIOM Se ewreesrave oe Nave alec eremebens 5
Barrett: Daniela yes sale er BMT oer tenateraie Solllensiatrrcieenh, Rintiat tase eae ahs y's
Barrett, Christian ..... Ai Sic Dei eee HIG OTGRRe we cucticns) orate cae cole wt celece eked 5
BlACkHuUEN Wile Cae cracls sa cereeecte eV Veet val Gras srs crows ti oh loccichevs ioseceeats 5
BO weeny; USR a Crea icc sieevsys cuetets caters WVU aOR pert taco tts ay bie. c sate 5
Bowen Helen Oy Mise ste olensscvsvats hers feves WVADUTT WANG Reece sora yas A iste & ores are 5
WS OWENY VISE tiara. cipiste-c ace ciels.e.eca rere i as SOLOMON aie cratered e Siena cialicn shone lec 5
Breed ems Uae V iacete ae alavaneloolersia: cee le eve AGN Ce mH CU eri CKiir.saictokvers cisiece.« 3.5
Breeden e GeO Weacie ccleceivele sielele as eee SOMOS eres chavs tte avens tue isis 5 5
SRECCOM, MIO Wawa sy nic els 0 ote londleehere alec as SS OULELS aerereic es Wineries seas oral cite 5
Breeden, Jake E.......... Aleit een E TS SONORA ees orp haere orien sas. e. suee 3
ESTECH ETI WVIME Hn iets ole etebadensioin aie eieieia clare SOUNET Sips ate ttayay Pelee cael mioicte iors ie 5
SECU CMs DMO ible sree tele crore adhere stale ner ons SOMES a Esaciea ait ene eisiorcoae 4
ISTCCH OM: Be WG: sayeiene cote, Socl-w ne feilev'en aeshatene evens OMENS aie yet wettest tail a secni Puce ee 5
PESLOMEN WE Ui ctolecsic ol stare oetapeis te oie satonata ce teks WViallllvaillle se eeee tee A) Re net 5
PSTEOTME? VHISUEG te chotencta’ orckal stoners sata aie Seen AVVGallilivallle aio pavevssteun e) ceisler eicrnce 5
Woodson Wim ees icisiee elevate tetereharecatelere SO LOLI OMS i Nele wionsitoie sche ccvere el slates 1.9
IDK) ose Ned sind gene Biajurre upshonotovesetencresieus NOLOMIOMSW agents sissies cclicleies es) ne eats 3.73
Gantt, Wm. Warren...... atta Make seit eee JRIRG WATE DRA tAR ses ee el ema a Wes
TG MON Bee Ree A coat ohevetenaserete s SiaWAe tere AUIS ys acrctetererecucrovs Sale arse ausdolerederere 2
GEOR Pe dine HM ciees reds celere apeselioe ders gietalatskere sys SO] OMMONS re ictabeanie sas or icvontnis ous, eau 4.5
George, Mary J....... eee ates aiabe sneretess PS OLOMAOUS Merde crete are ate t oc ie ecb eos 2.5
GOV Era STON yarn een cpierer sake tiareus At aes Solomons ....... Se Nicainateelolen nia che eee)
GOWER RSME ais co )hteleterekeexels aie duateVereactevene SOlOMONS ry ashi cdc cies « eceueiaet Ben
GL OV OSS Sh tora crsteteheeteis oie tens SY ater tere eS UCIT OEM pera crate cos ie Men ohanstete 3.75
EVAN COME VOUITS ID). | neve evereletalels te reds tastes lesa tee Princewmh red enickeas oe 4c cee 5
Jones, Jno. M..... AS ae ae Bratohe eich acta IO UO MIO TIS Mar fora c lonerte’ aha: nvaviscoarel oie 1.25
AO MMO SES Here Rpodeuukete! eateyal'olihe cruise a's OL ONELOING: ono rela ele.e's s/ais.0, 5 wie seve vets 2.15
Johnson; Isaae 12). 322. . A ACD ne aoe SOLOMOMNSi pa. sersver sieve sioiete set soe 1.6
ENGECH TIN IVE VAU TN ele ronvers Gleitinve ciehel on /ates Solomons crtercne soiree ae 5
ee telat wa Sar Gye seve eresicle aver worden SOLOMONS Peteiapectessrerstsraicke mee ne are 5
HOW; MOS Consrccsts cise Avera sts Saleinre me NS OIOMMONEY peheiehane.oilese casa'a-at a raciele 6 Oe 5
NRO CS) OSU ees crerclavere sre trentrahens shia aimee SOLGIMONSUieieseyss0e noes nee teens 25
MearDaro Geogr Mths oi ce uineetoum cieae ORG ANEOETAS f INi cds firs. wie er cicteracova ee 2.25
VIS TOTP FIIUOS Ese recate: chars cies haters vehene echaccre Solomonsieesa: Bret cc lara evar otevehehe 1.87
INOVGM EINE WAM WH ale cletaveivciiereic ic eke ccc ere SOlOMONST Raden telo tales cite ee 5
OHELEVA ION -Elciottetsrers sratetelstel dis ericie ae are Solomons ....... sltranclatansnete 2
OvertOnsy Se Bites c sists s ce rere aeapet shavoxcln clave SOLOMONS Weert ist ciarstannes ace 5
Overton, M. E..... SAAC OR RSPR Ee SOLOMONS weresepeore te aisheie aos are cre tate 5
MISEEtOI, AIS Y NPs ce) s dias a sivcielersieisle.cee MOLOMIONS 3. sis ns dh eiae sabes oes *1.29
EMER AT eNO cesrehays ohetareton sal ol avereamoncieaions che EIN CG HOO ERICK. crac state cies cyoere 5
MEAT. WN PLDs L oiekevenersrsyererers By et Ons Prince Hired epicks. « cis icc.ctesieis's ee 5
MS EVUSIAU OW IVE sa I sioyna cr custicherotokeveretet chstorste el aihosen. 6 Prince Frederick....... Be itso het 5
Parran, Benjamin ..... etches "otlseue! stievexocets PTINCEMHTEUSTICK 2c) <nyctcleclelsierntece 5
VIE Vee OMMY, 5 shesckonsechalels crac, wei te cL wepatars SOLOMON es etek re eevee 42.25
PS CMU cL AR NTs St Va toys care ckefagtay s)nlohel Ss rare SOlOMONS Hera a ores oo ah rate oreeate te sits
ELI O vn VVOULIT ANTI ewereteneev crore ovedaye tue ete ocvabe Solomons ereee weiss ten eee 4.75
DOMEIS: SEGRE he ae Sicvateue: oh Sees A SOUELSE aie irdenctMalnisis ciolslater eae 5
SOMerss INOW .tces ese ei Sea SOILCES Pytinvc sievetisie ccaidis oals ieee 2.25
Sollers, Jas. G..... Sue detetalonevetete A sieketeishene ONIONS eae ee ceo as Didletanclbtatates 5
Proneue TAO. oot. atctelteriede (oteifoer awit chetos SOLOMON ee ieciateicy veiacots si sterol 5
I TNS ATE ET AICS oc ey cue \arcsdatette euche ci eve sete Te SOLOIMOIMS wixstaeeartistats taistercicscmteeetne PATS
BU OMISUTE Huh EM te sh.) ale tay'aris oueliae ies cutie eh giere eee ee SOLOMIOMS Wer aeisie sa uae ale es cloves: ents 1.75

84 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Name.

Tongue, G. Gideon....
LMT GKET TSA Steelsaiere epee exe
Tucker, Lemuel J.....
DM EIVET: CrCOne eremicncterele
rie. AHO Selelinnereweieteter
Weems, Clarence .....

Ao tiallitypatsectacuorenet vege

ple 134 F.

Name.

INE hits 115 RIALS Onecare

Bowling, Frederick T

Collison, George H....
EendersonneAc sel emur. ae
Hayden, Henry A.....
Jackson, John C......
Jackson, Walter L.....
WANCASTCE AS Seem snereraue
Norris, James N......
Norris, J. Walter.....
INOLEISH PINES ye drereteclc see
Thomas, James E.....

Name.

Bond Maria Abe cece
BOOze RODCEENG eee =
Brannock, Annie L....
-Brannock, Hdgar .....
Bloodsworth, R. E....
Clayton John Wie ss .c
Collier, Effie M........
Creightony 0 seis.
Creighton; Hs Or 5.
Conway, Harvey H....
Dashiell Was vil eres kien
Dashiell eH sg lectern
DENG ey Wade IP id aalaio ec
Wiel Was esters ove ees
Hvans, mos Wea ec.
Foxwell, Wm. W......
Gray, Jamesi Wen. oe
Gray, Martha 22.5. . »-
Gray BeSsi@e os wee
Gray. JaMes) Rewari,
Gray, Cornelius ......
Gray, Claraeh.).3....2
Hayward, Eliza H....

Address.

Salas serodare eo eeas SOlOMONS ereriorcnerate ocsotarss ciereneweneehe 4.75
ROR CS atabens oh tee Solomons) ie. eye cise eet Pa)
Patents ce eieronetoce Solomonshseai. tomicrae Gene soles PIAS
EST oto rece © itn Prince Hired erick vices clereeiete 5
ache he als se tatn es MOLOMLOTIS =o ates ieee ehelece Meeaenat hehe 5
SUN ON cyt SGLOMONS tix tie terete evetete trachea 4.75
eT shite RA Sa EN Nan Se a gtk ee mre eA! OF ENE Bim 224.54
Style
CHARLES COUNTY.

Address. Acres
she he rackoue ne eiatehettions lo Wb tes ava~pia I ee sata Se o.or clon 'c 5
Ak tue tot tecenbPeral sgstiae Hushesvalle wens ek ecco aco) a caetete 5
aed pet ven eval ere nen one RoOCKIR OM tise cee acrae ek eos 3
BM ANN ch sparen rey ie Beri edict icici area gouetine: erctoetn stones 5
Tas heh: co eWanersdo pees POMP KINS VATE. ceicy ever oon 5
OS alee aCe Mompkans Valles saree Stsyyorccva crane 5
Brad RACE Pa Nan renee Mompkins valle, Veiimic. cose sher sh ewe 5
A earaes ON ansncrenetenekerr ROCK ceOUNT.. Si s.s) seneschers. eee stenckore peeks '3)
Bia aiche sot Hel etever SASetede FUOCK ROUGE cas cre leevalcenera cine 3.65
siateteritcted eke nteces LOM WOOd! =. im seyersrepsec torneo acters il
SEU Eee tateiercfanekel ae FLOM YiwOOds iio) nestor ieee il
BEE A rhe PR eA Tg Se IFETEMICE iiss ah iaic ie ealereteuceiarenie eens 5)
dae Nalco Ail as bai Suan oles CIS Rar, ota rach Ot a 48.65
DORCHESTER COUNTY.

Address. Acres
Ba daviss apis done akewetehe ate CAMDIPIGSO Ree Ss ewe ce chock ke One 1.75
sahara hg 8 HN mene teu ste Eoopersvilleg ics. see bone ee 5
Vas acdsee (Of on on giee eX We eer lore cS OS oc 225
Se gtr oelateel sbep ations Cambrideer Fe ee.aweee sees 4.15
= EPS Shan REVERS aksten ne Cambridge. Sos Asien ease a
Scie wieheweh cea tote TLOOPERS VILLE rec tois het stete\orio aeons 5
bbc Fs Eien eeap a eeee Namticoke’ 60s ci okie ca oR
softies A eveterernaee BMistime sy Creeks stays shane cuore 5
Seed Ane hcees eke Mishine Creel 2c. cus sceetoetonmene 5
Sra Bias wafers tooretete Cambridge: 2c8..,) geo seo
Sao leh yer ad Oboe CAMPPIMGZEy wie c aie ere iets cote loko 5
aNathoe Bact nrheuaee ene CAMPLIASe We Mews wns sehersbse tone meres 5
aT ne PT ait ae AS IN'NTICOKEG) 2 soak cys Bpccchitne ce talane conta 5
Sia eee cdeheeuctse Ott 2s oS Oe be oer ors 5
eB oono ao Sat Blliotty oo. i A oa eee 5
aie Se Pk oper etaas cece EMWOtt. soe So aes cle aee clea eee 5
ERR Soe Ness 05 1 DUB (0) rl eee CRS Co ote G cecolo o 5
ied SS tt eee eee DIU AAS EWG S S Coadao BO CIO.OC 5
BANE EES SRT cer aaa Mio tte so ite se. kei eee 3.05
SOAR eee ceca erts VOC oie dct. ee eaeecotehs = aeee Rhett 5
shar crates akanayeeniiers I DILCC ie arias reson bolt colac 5
Aaa ANagae etait SENG UB sos colores once syote oe Naruse paces 5
ie lear aiak seagate ttle Cambridge 2s... a asvonereret dl scien 9

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 85

Name. p Address. Acres.
Eurseman, Charles We. « <te<i ssecs «<1 0 TEM UDG La che Sica Sore RORR Ee Occ Ree 5
UI ys CVI coor es ol aear evox at tenetereet satel os AVAL THT Aaah os -votsieac lev cicfscciece aoe as 5
Eurleys Celiar bie sae ok eee se oes whe s VALET Hyer aforcialeheiereie ke ets ees Eee)
EMTS y;, eH lial. 6 sess tetas stereea re sv epees SPE DN LOTITL lia apatay os oheteveksnaaretebotorcrs tote meets 5
FGoper, Ad elPGE ties, sectors vanes eee eeec iat cee ETOODELS VAIO, Scsperots’ tavonesoniatete ck 5
TONESH JAMES DW reactors: ck varsyarelancidie ace sieke ais LOVIN O ete Seatcrctren eee eG Oa Siok eae che 5
VAEKSON. AE MOVIAS! rarer es exccsveveles iatiexa: ever ckere ASEM MTMORES teverssapcrcact skate ak oR ele ate 5
TOMES = FV ATVE Vite wocrasateties saree nd f.s cs, balck VATA OW eaueuate crate eis aster Sits eis nae 5
PGW ES EVV iets ieye adets ce! syaie che kes ee BIS O Dr SVEELCAM) a nchercestotercncuossvcuwiale 5
Keemileiye, Miattey Ay te sis stk iets. sie sets stedieesee es IB AGIMOREM erate te oucioe ate the oe 5
ASSIA TTEIN Ones Wipe elete aie nay ct ovanayctiel ete sy cet ohetion RUNG tite sere ar defi akon stellen’, cos o cuatseate 5
EW AS INT OTM S etersrale vont cter eects Soe stoh iee os ELRGODEGES Ville ts a cial seteuscsre ietniee 5
IMO One ATOM MIM alt: wesc of ance ucts trate. o-<eue ABT Olatapire eae ae heehee cater fe ape ke 5
NEO ORG) ANDERE Y Els au cse\ ess torn olesere ver einece Nene TO Pee Acseniarsisus sPiacilelevel sce ae locc tore 5
NIG OLE SNAG Vad cet ueieleanaene smtlereioistateio wiers oe 1 DUUUOTE ES ts A HEMI OOS ots BSD a Ona eee ae PAP Ea
INIOORC RAW ED Vereen ays cls atetaroenalmatnede aotaliesten cree LDA SOAs regRNCeuAIC ERMA ote NEE cal ete
Moore: *Elerman™ Wis o.. since as eteus epee ce BYNTO WEP eis reccreeyesevercic ste lo sus: stoner ore 5
IMOOrEe- SP elma Acs, Ais cil whe susye ave cesta slove ENO letpawaye Stetor nord A eee oe) oweie kale Beer 2 Pay
NITSCEAC OWS iin tise ce eeaacier tie sls (Gain TUG Pewee rey ae vate sets ee os 5
Wises COL MWh Sen icteierieices Meh ied Gambrid@ep steer ety aes oleae 5
INV CO JONM Se-cae wate Biase ceternnebe a itech are Camm Os earch sicas ie Sheds etels Gare 5
ETCH EME ECO CT iieles tia-cnsicl east onetevetnpaxere’ ¢ GEMINI SEM ek crcre terefcnesctes cine xchoconevae 5
JE1OWN Dy arse) By Dinh ney a Meer Alas Pacha oho Siete Camp RIG eg eretets otohalels a cate were ty 5
ATT Ss Avil ANUS. eettasctceope vere sycckersusaeusie oe CLNT MOV ALO EX Dees ERG acy aero 5
EZ TRL S Vey keer oh sires cteevey ofc, cohol ante temeRons oe faicten’s J EMIGH oth nes © Ol ere) eee bce cece ae eecice 2.50
FLO DINO VAL aI Es have 2 cree aeereueiene Mod adswillewvageuerg.teeisreker cos aceye esas 5
Jain ay sYorals 1M avon eatsiSied Vis te init cron ad UDI adoOw FTOOWERS WANE tes velolevesstes, syasaeie 3 5
Robinson, W. ..... Ee N A Netacdae Gas wouter ROWS vill Gterrexspatcnchvove less (aro ersns 5
PMMMLOMS a VA OT wns eres cue stale eld) aienare seve EIOO PERS Wille tease a) sete eee ce 5
SIMMIOTM Sasa rte Mkensten racist choles snc eneless seu FOO ErSViliewemes = sates a char ve eee sie 5
SMM IONS MORIN As Aha seyorciese ai et pst eves eneitelec ILOOPErsvllle we ky ceenre Kel a ee: <cue 5
SUTTUSIVOF OSS SADT Seer aed Borne 8 CeO a OOO eG FLOOD EES Ville mela tetse re tel sp sueyisyoreets oe 5
SSMU OL Se eAcViehlO Means 5.4, sre cis io Steic leuslene Hoopensvilile rst sios cent ciscene 5
ULCER ea CS aI en have siaiey spleen ere OUSSANVALHT: Street sc oket a's. sttateienen fae ici & akencbe aca 5
Biv ere Mins: Wale Scene serene oe oe ce 8 ssi PELOOMELS VALE ey ce revere cocis usliereye & 5
PRT AVELS ce OMM Het d.rare «tiki acts chs tect tebe re ca a she ES UUM EG 5 eater chess sororities saayoos cer oes 5
TRV CT WV GIESH ae Ate talars hte. acs, SIROEA Ser shah ee, FAOOPEES VALINE is ore «she h cnet sa heloncbe ne 5
Sibyl Ge eA AINIES) ety Nee seecters shaleys, avetevele o/os.2 FLOOMeH ATE Coe as eras wisteleheas. ¢ 5)
BEVIS ANIME TiN Sarre etc tepsuate edn 5) chai is ener FIMO WEN S valley sors dec src cote ontcrs 5
UR AV OLS Ie Vali Humor sre cies cutelereaanereie, sere ERGO OMEMS Wan cress ope eae peirsuenedetelene 5
SrsaVeES FRET Y LR ies Systeue opel, anexcusee, suai: FLOOPEESVUee Ser. achererens Saarazs. 5s a 5
MP AVErS EB CNye MH a ieserce shane slo te tie\e aes RIS HTM MOCO atin sisccustles cyerentuseel 2 5
Wicleerc ts Nn Ommas = El i.s.. As lene cis tebe sieve AVEC ALON) hepiee) ste) oisve oeiss ah alajo. 0s eilene teers 5
RUIN n Olen Creve sitechs sieves feud ens caltscoieraarslavs BASH OMS CH ER este cisuars ia a wavelets 5
NN ives call Ls] CABIN) arr test states enrebensya, ules ib ete tots BISHOP? SENECA: evtiv scm ecetaie eters 5
VE OREN @VaNgeAvers sccretele elise le ouete clare J EKO UMC) OLENG PELE eee Pe Pau es rye 5
VV Ss eA TIM GTE voter ica ev et’s 1 leperegcitevstationers JSISHTNGK EO) fer Is He 8 ny ce aloes eae i)
GO AM GA EI SOTMUN cc, ah ardaeey sitter pe SL SINGS Paty asia 'e niet silcre, «) tile «lore aerate 5

MOGs ier vercictete hovers e ielReS « SLES agua nb Rey Ten che CORR cye de ane A aie: 340.92

aps a ipalaplen 2 200Rs
KENT COUNTY.

Name. Address. Acres.
Stevens; BR. N.s.5.... Sevanevel 6 Stara SE PS GITVOR Es tyctwctolereue stc/s eiets coe acess 5

86 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

QUEEN ANNW’S COUNTY.

Name. Address.
GOLEM OT 1 erties sins Seat ke sic okereonel ote Keenite Tslams. cc cceinanieccce acy meteor
1EAcrA Ee AM ATINED TI Meee OMS Selscaios a ¢ aol Stevensville) 35) 5/5325 3 ae Sectelecereit
TONNSOM Ss VV AUT HIG oie srsnsuele teleliehedetonsuenels Kent sland. vers cisicimicenyere eee
Marvel ySamess. Wikies ec wieteicoinreicasier ot Stevensville: ..c% cscs seoersetieoe
Dall PHOMASMEL . cle sacuerorcnanetensetaketevshahonsiece Kent; Mslamays cc. dc ise Geslste ccerenenoreee
“Pull. “GEOR ey Me Nate heirs utonshatetevals teyoreie Kent lslamaier aij isles ctsiiele tenner
MSO GAL erase crn atoieoal olen oe ee eT eae elreienare laualelnstaa aie: ol estate anoliotte ler ake eisleuelte foxctol evareheve

AA EY

ST. MARY’S COUNTY.

Name. Address.
A DELUGE COLLEY A lreveatetereyeheraterstat chiens WGEOMATA OWI -iercha tisvshe estecsuatenstedehe
Aen Geore ea ae crivelete lexdore siete reraiones MeOnandtOwMoacr eetee cee teree
AGAIN SO BETIS Hey vaie rere tetavs savers eben syatereo Compton. sss tere bio ere nae eto
BUn CHA AMM Staegev peters cow custeuereioreu pont eueneits © Oakley. seis Oiler eaersshe ete tenets
Buhrman, Wee aie tre tetoeie sisrststeiete che Porto Bellon atnniccltececseem
Bunchyr Jone we srekreperetare alerels etek ovenct ore cus IDRORENGKO At Go gouedtios soo0bdbe
Cheseldinen Asay ievevs sieteseners syaneteionee one is RAVER SPLINGSei aie chee eeveletontats
Words Ma wines ae aes escee Sensuerareveeteneions DPA EI eles asc Sone
Diop Wallsend Weare as Googeso wooo FRAG Ge RARE ie (oe Bees aie et ane geentatate
Dios A WAVE NSS Gao ounwocooe dw cl RAGE Cy Sirsa bat esate locie te aot saetehsrore
Dean; Tolmer, serene ete ueheus ste heraeeie IBEYOMENORCON Ae alehinn Hid bole bie lcta lac
HW we ll EVAL SOMM Were cisiets syenstene ite cleieuenenele WEONALATOWA aiete aherela cm tao rerae
Horestallly ToOnMMme cites cereterercteteistoeaites NV VV TDI Ge eI |e 2 eternal tate cohetha cote role
MATT Gey GRAVE ies ranieuctereteus (eulehe whew eon Sie ret has (Moko keo) Mains Seca mcome ao wbidlo
IMorRoly IDO hywhow ISbES Ghia coo blo0.6 Gino Go cloud. IB DI GUINOGO | eeevahate rate nrtccapetercrstvotonens
GIDSOM IOS si He ae arora slsee reuse cushe MOAT G DTG tie Urs Haetit sts Varaerienscte tote ton au aucrionnene eye
Ey atte vA pNeuUsicn.wucknerstekeruoit terns neds Porto HBello cis ers wicssconie cas oretetseae
PFORNSON. Tew Bea weheicteleVetsiseyoheleerel orators MOPS anN Za 3.645 5% ooo cs areas eae eo eueke
Kennedy 2A ee iar rere tote teeyte Ce tetee St iMaryis Cityacs es sccmimoe ons
MOEEIS! Mrs Wika SP ierevelehenerevsyeieicrerceevenelele SES IMTPORS 75 eels catcolovets eusnee pelerete
Shortens @harlesmheryersicvers cleio cea eiiencheicte DAV GEN Seis noleretersisieiners seers
SHivelonae ad fod MAORI eticeton cooled cla oo jean Ieobo ey Sa aaoamocobaobocs
SMUGhe Wim PTS yieccwisicieleys ove terersl ereverensvcie MWCO ATE TO WAM Ms oi< cise tevenee oe coker
SHUG MeV INE LO Mteveversleucle ckcletevelsloreiererels Tie OMATGCOWAEn)atee oie coisicierel erent
Smithy Names Hiri shevercneueve iste levcloteyeresorens Porto sBello son. Ae ackets cpeisiotueetios
Sheehand > Johmohyen ce wctecteeitelcisis tains WOPAV OEM Gh sister eis alee tereeste ae eee
SHOLter Se WHLITATING cyekaveloletera eal cre doheisterenayers DD PAY GCI ereravssclovsteicletsisalerstieneme :
Ahohwlohey CGS slo dogo aoono0 OnovosuoOnS Par vray oat og seis, sa erecepe omens
WiOOGs ChanrlesmiDr tert crneraire tieverheneteneesie WV SVADTIGS Gforerereitere os Lone aheiateverensporetetene
MWisheie MekiPAy ID5s > oonbgoaodes outloud Ba lEIMOTE es c)chs ere chalice state ern
0 Wa ora Uae Me a cin a I le haa Bet ic, Ae OIPhsis OIE CNDIO DIDO CIO DOO UO COLGNODO O00 oc

SOMERSET COUNTY.

Name. Address.
AGAMS AW tel eee, sieve oct aiies svat anatevensrarcl tenes Crishield eine. os bine stheletexerlhorene
Baker Ss OUlSe mrp arekctorers havens che vele cane Baltimore ses weare ace ore
Beauchamp im wan elon. .rerereiclercierescisnotslenueue Upper Hairmount) 32. eo... oe cr
Beauchamp yow iy ee . icedecksus cis chalets eae TMVERNESS Poke oticlclatks ce ericeete ans
Beaehamp-sa SamUeleneretderens Ceeeieaeee Marion Stationee set oeneee
Bennett ;Chasi 7 Oe isciscieta says sc oueperetel es PMVETTIESS iis cicasle crane si chee oienereneeae

Bennett AG armecteby iyi iuenenelecenceaenescie eels TMV EDNESS se. s hoe ois oeoarncreteeaenrels

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Report of the Board of Shell Fish C geumissioners.

Name. Address.

Benn Chi aaHis Six erate: esis. suels) o's sictsiaavedaveve ss ete MTNVELINESS I ore. cuss eystes deters a cheers
Bennett yAdayG s.ciclacsciecclors Me RePePeo ae VIELTIOSS evel auc ove tos veresieteteveiboete si 0s
IB GnMNebire Geos iW. .ite.cie.clopeietoteisi cers aroieta eas ITINVELMESS a oc cere no wee rceet eee
BENNEEE HH LOM sD rclatsrsutlaladeveiele eteversvete wie TTVIETEMESS cre cas aie sere a ciesenensenss she
BENE E TE AWW, Ulan scerohevanbloterslanexcieraterseale eloreke UMNIVIETTIESS av cisiorsieverseievesisys scsteretiecers
IB enmetize GeO; WW siccre Seusisrere aisvere are. verve WAR VETIVESS 40 e) a5, al earn lovaciols sat chereiere
BAM ESM Gyr eectarele a arelerelelene staawere atate BODISTIOION ‘spare chor ae sralcieiceriersy sistonerens
ME Dep ire ere Wk ee staticie: cl cles ores tists e-eiaieierarcis' chs OTISHOLO 55. orercte ea stew steered ehatesane
STK OL OW Oiek. Seercaaiet che ie el pherenetelsysCoieucn sissies Marion Staton ii, oes ct seal ase
OWED GIWaEAtcas siete cis ane atale ef stelePena ciate ts GRISTCTOM celts cre miaveicweie atte ace ee
BOAT AM PIMA ANS Sree erase ole even shel oieee VAT Merch cabetare eroberev sacs ereror oka ake la
ESO ZITA eNOS AU a lofotare toler alecuiscete) oleveicne ere CYANO eevee foe tovereutnaretrowtenite, ataliecs
POZA WAG CIUMA icy. ss clorstelsveleioiel cycle lest TOLER rr see arlonctaticv erohe ey onset tere cteet
Bradshaw, WACO Ly. «cts. slawield sisies s GRISTICION, iy ena. One ot eee ate
Byrd, Ruby B.....- esse eee rete ee eee. Ong (335 (2100 ake ee ee on ERLE
TEV O EE Goa ot) Die Bi G eevee ethic om ero eos OLISHOIG Ere wate ins eis end lt eee
BV eH ZA OUT: satura cteratevecesateve fates vorey oralete Crisheld Wns accaccn sek serie
WOULMOULEME DOSsy, Hise. aecersieyete eit ale wreletehane OLrishelds 2 sacs eee a ee
Coulbournes AnmMiIe| Mis 56 6.15 wsielete eters <c MaTIONENCALLON| cre cc ereheyaeetctexe
Woulbourner Clarks ts cick salle oeutte oss ekatel=s MARiOnUStAtiOnuaae cent alee
‘Crophilllxoytrciates ASN) Cone on oo cocoa oe conc (Gristicldees Wercwnee hacker aoene
ECOS Wille eM UIT AG ACs tatetare Iepetotorecetlcuenatetars bieuece GrIShel Ging Beene bas chown Sees
WOUlLHOUTME TUNICA MVE eeciette ease = ahekaveloetes s WrISHel dian wine othatic pent
Clayton MS Ara Avery ls take sacislenies eV aAmrlOn Station. ccc icece le biol
Women. Vila, isk. fohets ave one Ba RP elas PMS COTNETAN. (ok sive «paste mete
Conner seNe hee he Aes ehertaha he wae MIMI GMO OEMET! saree iroratas te eee
WonunersaNathany Sie ciscie lniecetoon eiekeke AUS HC OMMET Horaro, Sore isla verte ean etek
Coulbourne Mary, Hes «ceciine -lertenins CriStelaeys wae aiuecnatwcirersuneke a atic
Wax Mine C1 eKy Seis aidatainctene, oitandnt cae ets JBBTE OWE leinacigininio ols doe Gne oo
Coxe INO ENE cas seve Malaroia et alee aon ok AUTOM Miter ebayer scrhcvores ookeetehenteete
CoxPIsl Oval Wien as Sonera aoe tieda 6 HaIEMOUN teas eeiet. cic oeen ee
COR CTIA EES Baie en choles sacle a htoowre wants LIRMIBINO WIE CS Soom on po doosooboude
Coxe Al Cie M ees Tas teieten btn aoe) Sicko eee MEATEUTTAS CON Bee steel onc eater theta
Wrockett Sallie vy on cokes selec ee. tlh O@RISieldiin see ace sen a ele hee
Cullens Awintha sd. forsid es iste site siete CEISTEI MG Tawar seb re arose tee
CUM Kerneen ISIS S18 [ea eeedatains Bthrea ere Ghai ataae Crisheldinaes waislanesas tea aietae
Guillen Mamie Aw riiae crerctursewte catoee CLISHOL A ass ii oe rete hore Seaton are
Cheltomy Maryn. Hicks Serer atone wrt CRISTO] Gaal ae ci ord secu ho chore arene
WHEICOMEWAIS S oaitrore as BrcRis aloes wciena le hele WaAndonyillO i vosce oes eaters ae oe
Cowlhournwis Cavite a veracc ue sola week CTAIST OTA Raa oh aa etianieielele ele clin
WoW HOUTEN WME ED. cries. evs che eee eee SISO TGy terete focctetetsc ried eaeaharemere d
Coulhourns Jenner 245 -wilsasee rose. Cristield ssc Sta slate evanalerete eictade
Wroeckeve. WAN TATED. crs welesisiel ccs costs ei siets

Croekette CAM AM TAS yyy crekorels wieueiere sith ete omns (DEES ETOT OMA Vareeite:'shSuare wie steers Bl hovers
GrockeltysMatION’ eriverc ota wee Ce OriShelde ss sea neers oe hehe
Crockett, A DUEME Otieia cvs creicce ee eiclek sce Crishieldl aj naiddare Yee set ooeon
COM OMEN SAA Chere crc onyacteieie cielaiehe eke o CEISHOIGE Aaa oaks anemeien weleleae
Goer: VW era CEI. cet craca ocala sia ae ators LY IGE RISO) be eae clos pom doetnieorscr
Gore VEEN TLOEALiie cis:s scccieteaane cewek ae MENTING CO» \ aiticteseioin eels elect eee
GORE EISIO SMG a 0ecieceroid ecoietevettene cue ets Upper’ Rairmount 2.22 ..2.65
Ox MTOR, wa) a5, lalioncieterel alataln ee chee Wpper Hairmount ©. o fs. 50.2". <<
WONG VW eeCHIEMESE = avis 75 sich olsclons cramer one WppEervHaAiPMOo WIG ie. acters sels +
COKE PAL Tred 555 facsevchenstetenersive eens iD PEL HLA EMOUNG yee. \cc-tstel chore erer
MEOXOM SUSIEU Hic! cis,cteiciere careheratersite Gee ata eis Uppers Hairmounty see cee te
Aelcone ee MCT TN WA Fo: tress) x08 wfattaho tanto eee « Upper Mairmoumty ae << c)s)e siete)
WONAE COs Aloe es Net cat cvarchaietetel Selatan eonvas JAB UHAT OLT OLE del ornare cee

88 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Name. Address. Acres.
Gillen Woe hire on ces lev srorerotehee eens tbe Grisfielde. 2.3 kites henkees bee 10
Colbourn AUsustary cic, soclacwieee ys “Marion) Stanonns css apna eee 10
GColbourne HOGI secre. stochetere steer aicls is MarLONG StablOMeecse me eieree aa 10
Com We a racic och ctoveucisleher onshct aueuaw porate re Upper, Haicm Ountines se. sence 10
DN LOM COLA verre oie -csmrctens ue lreysrerercle Mts Vernon’ shins ven oat eee 5
Waiyton. MillATAGH. 5 shops chorovelsnaetererere ote Mite “WETMOM = shins cabeusrh sh reer 5
IBN OKA aves chin die) Deed Daa ges ae yiciceeeoiwo Dina bioiS CHISHOLM? Tere necyssttesaree a ses, tue oe ones 5
Dorman Geom He aersece wien chokes aioe Crishieldy heacnawe cedars tare ee 5
DAaweohertye Ge ul, ars ate ycyakeuepatte ole tele neers PIS OL Ee acs 2 bic asnereneker eT 5
Dawehentys | GLAaGer spre icici chcveweustolsteter deste, « (Orestes Gl paeoe a eae acdc olbic Game o 5
IBIVASS OLIN SY Ge ee A ea ie aoe Cristield youre arioaeetare 4
DUZES pe VVATI OSV eect Ae oh uate, hehe oreo ae teneve @riStiel dl) z.vcrceoserceecarotesansretre. sbereteeoe 10
HEA Sse ey Hb plaaWs eogogne oS 05.46 Hod MaAriONE Sta lon eee eleker ree 10
TEN VETS HVT INV ctsers alas eral, cae eeere Cristicldiae’ vnceen ce ene eee 5
IDK Pa Ww Eker lee Sniecigs og Sa omend la sa cle @WLIShel d iskiiciotekekscsisieao otaieteme cistate 5
JETRO ala KeieSvOlnel ll eo Bios otominioid.o 6 nid ols. o odata Wippern WaieniO mM ae -ercieterienet 5
BU Shier) Willian > oo sree cence ees MEG: = ViGEONGrd shactoeusecie ae abe ete eee 5
EXOT AVVO Wisi crcicts oo nocttciever ohapcke ctnaenens) she Upper eH airmounite sere eee 10
Nord s Sihermiaiat eacwyeetcterace eee C@ristield ym ooee eee 5
1Dfoy Ro vic) (eo) dha! 5 Perec Sitios ot b ces cicidia aco oe Uippershairmoumity asec 10
Gillis JOSWUMAME Bic dons oie ll ROM WippersWaikmount 2. see eee By
Gillis V Nara Agere Socios 3 otencpauoreh sneha oie Wippers Hal MvOunt Ss emcee cee 5
Gibsons BemipjeeE ais yey cic eierepercherelketcrenoae le Crisfield®: Ss toss es gaat tchekerciee 5
(Enoch Wiel ta, oa eigtad Goo Udoa da soc Grishelds fee S.ko.). hee teseet peters 5
Gray J euMes eM Sees seiner. oatalete stock omeleey one NYWIGhe HOUR) o's Beewoosauuccosuas.c Hs)
Guiniby;, “EMI Ass rrp lonep eevee amelcdek aps seicrerenone Marion: Stailonyr. cise sre critter. 5
DUM ONION os Homa geeA Gogo von dod ax MENTO MSTANNGM ad Bagace toon Gor 5
Teva Te SEV env eiie sda nvercsetstsieras enero ateeusttc Marion Staton ven oe sole ates 5
lS roileenare key Well ewes oan dd cordaic o dic NCES METS 3 cc ters evel Weep cpatecreca anes 5)
ERAT 5 WW Juss ifs cae eae Se nee mere oT 58 te Wippery Maniiemoummitiy sees sols ster s ee 10
ishve aaa enaleel\ Veal ove ees ase riciotenid fo hole ae Crisheldi ys co ee cee s eee 5
Hopkins: Jno: oH santero eee eee Uppers Hairmount 2 seers ee 10
Howard @laremce@e. a.cc. sccromeiioeer Wrishel dims Nek petack pam eee 10
Horsey, (Hi pha) toile n.ee ocels eineee IN EN eIOVO TS ERB KONDW Soe Bn Oo aidan cide 10
JONES: NODEREREL NG ae iecd race alee Upper Hairmounty. =. seer 5
TONWDSOM: Oli cies eectete toievenske oletaiceecien Crisieldee. stat hens oqosceee ieee 5
JaGkSOny WESICVio nas cle cilelepeiee shetapeteeie Marion: StAGLON As aescie cee 5
DOMES Amman iat wares crates yeusuessietehegee tec Manione Stablonie ss aeescr mnie 5
TONES HG COUR Lcra ets oievelche sale che icone eho ae Marrone Stationig aces rrcieici cena 5
Justice; SrdmeynIia selec etek ciclecio cree. Crishields 2.s.sccsisters etersces eee ere 10
SUIS TC Oo WWital CMlss Aten: ocean ratkel Syeterairctoneneta Sakon OLISHE]O!: = Gc wesyetees ec eteee SERS ee 10
JUStICey JAMES 5 scene ctene sieves ones Grishieldiiin- coe eee ee ee 10
SusticesC has. eee cenie.cie witeiete rs SCrISHEId) stocackaaahnie Foe oe 10
Tamed omy WV on ias 27 te seks ewereceiesctetasuorensrye Upper Pairmounte sn seme 3;
TEOMA WAS eter chee ale etl oie ioe eiotereicueteeete MATUNISCO® «sir aed hee Rae 5
Mancdomy WaltenkiGistccccrhote cue iactorene elena Baltimore stirs sine cs aeeetee atomic 5
TAME ON: BWVAMNS Rete tcc eek pane is eicleiichons Wipper WP HaLenyOwnie we creer 5
a wVallette; -Amnilev ics cers rlscuseectents @Eistielas: Waive eas eses chore ee Bets 5
TeaiwSoms. Ha Sok ale outa ehonseerereraereeioe Grishelay \.cktadicuss en cerca eee 5
Layfield, “Mary Pisa hs susoemies eid che te ieee Wpperehairmountes. 2 some 5
Layfield, Geo. W......- ee aiuiaray ty seis egeeeers WipperLEainmountieeeec ee time ee 5
Lone Warren: Bian. stattcietssiiad eiciciae ae Cristeld ys % caidas oie qotiemerare 5
WON SUSALO Kassie op eponereparanceauvecs of eaainies Cristeld@ 3. os 6 a stacat, d-'en. oO en Cuevet 5
one: shrank: Pieris Spaesrers oie feeb Griselda. « s..jchn ements «cts ates 5
one. Marion Jk... cieesise eel crveleisioee Cristel dl ue 5 verse caiccsuere ee 5
aw Son) OMA Ei. ey eesti peter eve ete WA WSOMLAY bites taesees eccheraiel oonoerebele 5
One i\Geoky W ses oasehs at tice ae rete Seon @ristield (228s Peewee ener 5

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners.

Name. Address.
WOCKERM ANAC RACs aa dic oth woyoisis wleteto fate CUisiel Ginny A dete Io Scere ee Does
WOVE a OnMs Oya cue Sc acter cne crete «store (GienEIT (0 et teletictor aon ess rota. cae c
WAMiKOnG PNOs Ey saan cual aecuheiste see sec OTISHCIAY Be wie ree eels ae wets oe
AVIS WaT 2 Ts ore 5 cache alone wid ovetelcl overs) wists OTROS sorte iors SIO OIG Dac
NEISEET, = ANY SOM 57 secareseecre helets oleverans ainer et SIVETIEOWs eine ondieiass ois ois Arle cclersy>
IMT ES! SHG Wala: Hibs -anepetodeaete tc leve severe e's sare’ INTEL TSLOME e3-tonatroteretoretetecencvele sieatenanels
NICD AMIE Mia HAAS) el tcrarelyarole norte efeteda steve ster @OniOletrs soos Goes ome ratte ale sok
NTE S! 1 SO UML pikisew ecmetovehe ts sere evel eralene otis IWATE REAR Aosics daoouaepe
Miles withered ee Sty ss orctat.\. sid a setcvers ate) = Manriom Station j.niecs. =): 2 «1
TTS Se WANTS aSiccehenatovaheretedetiamedctereire elahejamaielavers MAnTOn Stallone. = <3 te orotic °,
Ea. MismiyasHicheracs tea.ate tee wales ents cee eon (GIRS lA ards S 6 ae soma ces olatO a
VT Se He SIO eevee: fowensicteiicuetoxe tenet Pehene oie 2 CRISHEL Sac roctorstoke ote ehereteiotancrale ns
IVEDTOME yee SAULLG relate, «erat encialetn eveterrer stenees ols ELOMewiellligise = cite ette eieiaiets eee
MOrnig FM rake wel Ss.c, = aia » oncl tdias en stelerer «| chee WiGiaerar Cuelalobe 4.6 58h oo como GS
NEM POUR TZ ADSENP xrajspctebatcbaterst crete relat NIG LOTI ENS CALULOMY ioe <Wanedel-) oledese es
Milbourn ATUL cc. K os < fists cists iete 6s « NEISOMe SiEWAOINes s4 ooo moccec coc
Merrie Sammie ling acc acres etree ee ckotane sree WMENEUIMMSECOS a aoe tieiaiers oon sense er
WGK Kop es WO TREO EM S\eigeidiod cl ccitios obo op orc Marumsco ..........-.--.- Aobae
NPS OM) Oar dine sueterarevels ledeteuetcdayotetorenel eta iors (QTOITTA Ole seoe cic cic bio Dod bAk0 cost
WV Se TOTNES vel tayparexctelake ico.) tet eestels iol SMNkHINORES Sn ssoueaacsecouoods
Nelsons HIN Sah Witenes vets dere oateraeeee « (OVS VTi ee cic rad eo Pon S
Nelson Geo! he ISP esa sevens ciate eiele irene (@heitsiival (0 les Sead sins Se Gatiee coe Db ae
INGISOMAGCOr uns (ike came cies ochsteksteret Greil line Seb eictonemiot dons Goce
Patt MOs THis steak oer eee ons cont hed feoren CGTISEl Gs wes oie o es vehs oekere thes
IZ AKolhe Diyohd Began eto co dined Gricosne AG AN VSONUala Sorter cote cireusinetateveneus tereve re
ey LOM eG OTGIEGH sever rche ele tout terol ateleete ate « IBS Sfouniiel, “Sas Os ode dong dacclew os
EERUTEG a. Mia sc Sek irs bis Se eee ee ee CRETKSH TENG | Ve latcecccrp erence EEO SIO
menelly SISA der eyseyrrers ae cre eke ones INGATTOM AS EAELOMM 6 telco nea oie
RUSS Yc VV Tie Oi srove gan a cn Ptoe ate Settles OO Upper Fairmount ............--
ETE RG OOM govt reveta ch ateett ag och ae hers CGRISHeElai Cees ates piace ele teehee
PIS EY ae cebelet aie oteca ores aie Saha eetaOeTAe ks Mariom St@gOW oss. scence ar ote
Gainn > Clara cco ion che Crvaciaeiek acme es GriSheldietiee oe oss sass see ee
Ouinnsswshert yl eck ce see ebsites TIS CIES Sees ese cree exomiaret
PETTITT TAG A) tank's ao rare tabereicvie: eons oinie cis GUrisheldevas ease cee ele ore erste
OQminns Worries Cowes ase eos Sere @risheldaessris conan sievars cee
a ON LOLA CO ewe Nate choc leid sine aiohetoiatoeas COPE as) a eee ees eat
Ru eeimMe He ishete Dpetes iaeleta iene eee ere te (OVPISTTVAIG | woicho gd pid ea to Oe ole
IRODELESOM, nS: Flak wei yevemctatcrsiencesis Sheree NVESTOVERE Sosa csi nlge nace ae shot ltaile
TOT TG s © HAS! MEV areal cr ansyees she eo ete tele ees @EIShelGA sos os tone See ee
EIT a GeOw ise ons ais bry ations. oe recoetoate @ristel Gin. aaa ce seisca en crshe, eee
RAISIN AAPA Vest hernsearcesie siete Gratteene GLISTOTOME sa Osea css see ee
SGT oe: SWWianey Cie waves ce tone on clei ocniaeeke (Hise das aren = eres ches ous ls Aistiotnepens
SCOEG VAGa AL. seis ore See cactus idee Se INIRERA VET MOTI CS iateretel tobe oleia. ote crsletetens
SCOR Cys Venses eersven tetera Cela ened Mit eVIGEM OM sis c sus she eis ae cinececn eels
NOMIMEFS EVEN YL errors slys leh arevorere aaron TIVE NESSiy et ceca eisitiele loi ra cs fouelcuetene
SUTIN PI Ol eives «, cranny eneuasonessreticiavencsereiebeleree lal s Grieder erecta ocr crt ccens store ss
Stenlinese PilliG sito cae etal e he aebeue @rrstiel Gaye crane peek ees oleic ie ele, 2
SLETIING OR OValer. sic eeiecctehele sap ateule elebices OTISHOLO Seicieciea s wide nie © sislcrers ce
termes MENOTC oki. esis eersvererekceere stoe MOTUS CIM ths fiche creed ecole Sieeaes tenets
RbeuslnnT oe oT TNS ore, os crelonciat retin one creus @risfielde says esc: RE rma) oi
Sterlines Martin, Ticct.cce oeteeeimeie eo lace BaltimOlenvcw.s «sic ee keane
SSGIMEES RHIC WWictecoieiccieierels levees tepeln arava ciche roe CNAMID En cen cisis tus torotones mis cicreiets
SSGIMET SG ROA Gens «cis scoholeveie cerca neck eth era) = @hamp feet. ae ck cel tele ee
SXUMIVETESS PA AVCHd Pe reid akgotoiciimorsrd Gore coc oe (Olnsniti Ness Aa someweepoe oc amen
SOMOEESM@eNpaeicpereicile sucksackeacuehs lovee netsh s Olena Ages sy555 hosp cenccep oan
SS TAM IOTOLEA mcctorsiue clsicueverels plete eats (OOS een iO aE orbiter
PMOCKIO Ve NIOSTLG 5/55, .vayeccre aterene shite lnone QIU Seco cia teteios ave o ele atom ee

89

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fed |

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CH OT OT OV ON en cron orn on Men on OL ON OT ON

go Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Name. Address.
Sr Gh sy SONMM Whsieie:sercteeccce is Melts Hie Oxviole Arc sis thc ah eee
StenlinesArchure eee cee eee ae @risheld’«: yerustesysveietecmseree
Sterling "A delianc« 2iraewtac tect tiene @ristield)). is iic.4 sectete cei es
Stenhing | CUiC Hae ace csi teh ee: Cristield nd eetince stein cahecirs
STO Versi WoT e pe ah a eu ee a C@rishiela..@ ioscan eee
Sterling) Mlwoo0diecs) ince eee Crisfieldt cc secs cies tee toee
SCERLIN SAN) MISWeets heen G autos Mare See ue Roope Grisfield: i.) dete Siren ee
Stevens visiac Soh i eC yearn fain eee @ristield iyc..25 seks. ee ater
SElUZER RG Wwa Mis ae ee Tee oy etvaacek Shell towanya sian ees sie ere ee
Sterling? Wied sacs ie wh eye eae oo. 2b mae @rishleld: ye verstalelesre'e wiataicne oteee
Sterling aAMesieee festa kee ee eee Cristieldy sticMjacherette sheiaten wae
Tall awWashine tom Tze vacne \.siceeiecae ACME) GENS as bon m oo odedoo
TMPAVEGS HulSaae elite cs sate a cttiere lane ene eee Oristield os ety ciyeists os wressikoeeus seers
Abe W kore | Dene owe Ka en eminG Bho Soe MullSHCorner! se. verclesetelstretaers
VORA: Geo sls sty Galseerae stele ante ase Gristieldipurjoy ors oes emravetactmepeins
0 ay Vee ses eh] Rate sn wen EU Tree Sn 8 Crisfield as. c renee telacter nee
Mylene GrAaCe ied k oesepcvetelers cteeerieee ee Crishieldy sa seniehi tees eee
VT WES WAG GIGWISE tensa Once eu a tscgar A na O@risheld: ips reve shooreenste etek
MAW ESNGTEACE isrtal. salaorseak stat tsetoleatee Crisheld a Wako tte acon
MAWES SAAC Aldcs, Se tatesser tector tar anes @risfieldenci Ny si 20s icra neniataeerae
ND Wises ces © ora ccocePerat ener taevenate ae MINGATNEICOKO Wars o cre lersiere ree en Oe
EE Caren @ Sayers, earote: causa cia.c Cea ce Nan FLCOKGIAy.rarci-ts-pelcisielcnie hetene
Pera EVO DERE chaecrede teuctarn en sco ccleaner ne reas O@risheldiny sire arseveversvaransanoraeane
TaylOLVMIROSE St I .creenatrdieee ee tae Marion Statlor sc accesses
ISANW.OS SyDiew: ee So icc SaPecay mr sehe orgie ented sacle Orisfield | 32 0k. tc. ssa
ATU SU Ace, Lee ee on BS ativlatchs chia teno St ARERR EME Marion Staion eis asec cio
PANETT AES SN eyo totter tater eianteare cet ae eRe Tete nee ene Marion: Stationcrnsnm ocsee
Te Hy els eens nbitaiionls diralieicMateat eel reve auauate reveal Mariongetanlonunny sree. eee
TRAV LOTS COs ataeuaaln lees Se ee MATION Staclony 0) sj<10 ce creecsies
Wierd seAdiGh as Avas Masia saich aenatecen alae ieee Marioni SEaIONN leis. 2 chereieenete
Walliams Ben]: THs. oetoueee ecole WalishCornerwaciccce creek eee
WING RGeOn: Hise evel sre, Heh encyceencucnedatele es Marion! (Station) 2 coon te bles
Wihittine tons Matyas siaciremeneerion iret IMaArionw S Gael ome seve sterschxcterete
Walt irs G Om AeA Rr ya es re oe te ete rele Marion Stanlomirrs peice cients
Wihittingtonie CocAye creeds rector acters Marion station omens saree
Wihittin stom SH fie ia saters ete aieiersioeh Manion Station! ey). ecm ascii
Wiarton Sallie, daria anicte otal eet uer ene ODISHSLG rs Meera serolene fre ea eeemeote
Washington! Wewisi dines s. ose eno Upper Harrmountie ees sea
VV HATTON SIMO WS rel suc erconep aerate eet @rishel dina eects ay (te oR bee eee
WEMTGCEIN STOMA GWiea Sic occ eyesore oe eesket ee Mar OMe SEatl OM seseine ei eterte
WW itbinve Com HASAN ied) 2 acsts) craic reuse ale Marion Stations... ei elles

BOC allie Meroe sdohotarn suare he enetarees eevee eetetonceks tooetelis ailaha:opameieta ais Ov lalietetereh abevenevente

SIE T11P
TALBOT COUNTY.

Name. Address.
Andersons ChanleswHrie echoed eee HAS TOM ii wt ot bl ci euerene are ae ioe
Brinemany Everman seers cous ec ioe OR PONG Hei dord Ges 6 cles ctiee Cesare
Bayard. sGNOSCal yes aloe ee eee St:Mighaels\ 2 2883200 comes
BULLOW Sh aya Hic <recsoich vekereveretammeteae ne RO Vals Oaks sve seteptinieatoncieee rears
BratteSamuwel ewer. cco csciac tsi ASTON ihe Reiele st cucienere eee acme
Collins: SETETDer GOH ciacteteveoiolelaevoteueke one ORPOLG hese eeew ae toe
Callahan Geo icv ckncievel cus susterale teres BaStOm'; .ivitp ste arsiticks ometoererereyae

ee

Ee -s

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. QI

Name. Address. Acres.
Daw SOM Hl <Gireiactd ss ales $0.8 036 oho aye Osh OnGaercretertelorheneis tered, 4: ek sraucia ere 5
Masters Vrs: Mis W222); Meo eteice eresvele re) «seal c TRYOATE)I LEK O Liles Re ice ere ieee ok 12.35
Hramptons Charlestiienisccnis ene cee oars PROV A Oalkaye sa cieisie istosre clove see ed. « 5
Hairbanks) Charles? Hyc)sctecc.- aero 2 0) 4 te DASUOMY s ccepsten sfovelare ls estes ae avekets 5
Glasscock Mrs vAsaB ais siete a eel a ciereteree elec Si MUCHACISy ace speeaiha ace etre oe 5
GIASSCOGK, AMM ayluls ts'e recat toca e aretevorelohsrs Die WUCHACISUE PN iicrs oles meee 5
lowethi Ge We ais eis craecsiene os iaiatons hehe a PVA ass eseae chalets ciacisieteret. 5
Hoaweth; Charles Jisnicwisec octeieree oles MO HINAT er tarstotateleratalee chases Lave ae 5
Henderson, Charles Hons. ss cere eee = ASCOM SE eis sie iese dais lelecay Movers ais ame: £3.25
Eendersoniy Cs Hs, Wit tslsckee 6 ett e ns ASTON s,s Sa les ivglolerose clare eooeies Bay
Hendersom: lla Ms.530.4 355s oie «avers ob eee BASCOM sia aistareve gaia aioreicalerets stone ers 3.25
AG Cea Willys AVOKIS secolescte syed ce clsiohaa syerele GUAT DOTTIE Si I edie tole erste scrote -ese §1.25
Earris on © oe iy. otslspatelatatel eueveseret ets AVA RINE Rear tale tats steven cholera) Sooieee 3 5
WeOnATGs Wey Br. 6 ators Al a.ciste etapa daisveleevel cictars RUGY cl Oakes starstatel sisters te ects yale yes 5
MeConnellyeReviiSi Dies Giscr ace aie sce ASCOT A ota tener eel ac enstensma rela eiahe 5
PTET Tce REPEICIS ici ofa to ate Nola tee tale sifalener en) ASCO aletelalehe lot elsts ec eiatel ce oe q2.75
MStervAI Greedy: sarin trate artdtere stelele oe eie MINT TNIV ATI oi ovav'e cere ls taetetatclavetene s 5
IN eM AT HB CSSIO oH: wer.isiortele ae tera eioes s FS CIIEMALGHY tiers cial mac ebanke he sits eueiiens OS
IPED DOr Me cto cpsiatisiae ayes cael Sloane eieee ESOT UAIS: Ciyersiake Acie eisue aveuslisste stage y1.25
ETUMIMIMOT Mca. tevastasishoteters ove¥eoneiet ee Keyser OXTORG rye crslticsuera ceavsieisiers ee a ecere 2.25
BaStorfel die We Wye. teteceters, chetoteucr chore Cimtara eis ROW AIO AMR eejeisic ls rerchooce oslereets 5
RGArSOn A. PEGs ail vitetacteistertcteeteveyeihe « ES AGIMOT ONO recat a eueitie! lets cies craters 5
PGATSOI, ELS CE. elas ietarcrateetsiae & sie > avec! « SVEN OLE yeatsis fale icra osevee avaret arteteye 74.5
RGVELS; rATCM UE WD ice yaie & usar siereiaee ee 6 chehene al GIMONG ere atetavcse cherie lets hei ee tere 5
RAVELS: SANE sotsiclae's © 6 See icine iors. ES AIGUIMOTEY sie areseys tes joLeroledoleve eve mies 5
ERUV ETS! WSs aA UCAS iis cbs eteyarcderetahateelas chests ES NGPATOLE Fore cite ecole sie cue ie levfone clatene = 5
SimClairs Ms MWh avs ete n wtisuss seehacote eras MN MAI Neievche. cucusvotote'sereelchesiedecets 4.17
UTI Ws Meat fe rer eue lotasaveseraueeciorenaawara nis IAS TOM essa alone svehoredece cote: chet ohaxeue 5
Wallin te EMM eIUBG ster. cigieteres arcie. cerereticout Wieiiamity sheteciclgavstereis\ediavenefo-oahoneue 5
Wealden PAM ObtEl 58 sivas: sistas alevete esata nia) alel MS GULO VAC wen cp etetsiatece, he <16; ayfsuelievetons.iete 5
AVA IGLOVCUAIN ceroheve« elctereralanscorhegccteeie ISOS Ve everorc ti tieraists steicenshersrerensiehe 5
AVA AN EM AW oecdedics case tans ies erelonsiaviare Siehonetiae WiDIINT ANNE Witetehaterc er etecsusteceeetereuecets ors 5
Warfield: Sires ry jisicth. cvsiersye ets ole terenns lars ASTON © Syepecore cavers ore aeeht ranetoestnet tens 5

ADR yey er eaapavenstcaveercneralereiet evatel sl evcnen anaes ardicbeteunlatova ig aiclalelassivls osietoiatra revgusieiele 166.09

fi TWO Ey aOR. Sab Ob. X21 Po STP. 220k.

WICOMICO COUNTY.

Name. Address. Acres.
PAUICITIS AE ROG NE cc chevalehacet stele cCacks: «aebajelie’ SANS UT ferete avevetors faye wie ys axcsievisyane’e 5
AGUS MOTEL Saas be Aon OMe apt oe SUAS Uys, bias (sien ous whiscysesnste)euaneuet si 5
Bradshaw. GeO. Bs Waves. sroteteke ie, syaliste s letelsc(ene INAMNTLCOKG WS ccieis eieicieiers cosrerstees 10
Collins | Wambertine vee eso esis eis oicies WAT BPE VEIN el ravsieieterevaceic.siatecteveils 5
@OVINSTOM TAS! Kes Serer icis sus elisacelsteyecerseie FLV ASIIMY ais Fre iaela lor <Weteistaceseiare sis). e 2.12
OASIS caste oe ercle tons eve vole gscer ous lei'e setae ss IN AIG COK EY 55 halt ive res cveckee le ereee: cus 5
PPICREESO MU Sa were alc ahavedoreie ste rehsicuetacte PER TOT VU Te Mets cers) cre elleveciever eats eueliers 5
VATS 2 EC ODEIE MG. es cileycucnelepelorcleseiereefetehe « SAISDUTY dere ee cinicierereicorehel ao crete oe 5
EN VELT SIS GOO: OVWieiele. viv sveheseioions wile elfeisi e's “ores s IN ATIETCOK ES! 3) oi5c)s% sieve tele: stave, oleleleie, 6 10
NV ANS Wisc varorsicrscesere ie ele lersiels Bere reterece NAT ULC ORK Ganeteyeiciaie isietejel sinie el srelensie’s 10
LVN S 4 OVOMTATAT EWEN sc eteye as'eiros, siele sapere, sieeve \is)s INET CORK Gur ers ercieieic chereksteveisienste) stots 10
Vela je) hated havo yn Mewes ie Baio mou.coacEbIOr BVA CEO enc renciarekele c'wisi curiovataiss) alerskaasiors 5
ELON Sia GeO Galea, viet ovsiecoreteieie here ct cieles|« WAL GTOTI A tea oiercanieveloqe cuatst setslolelelere: sus 5
LOM Se Gerd. {Op seks eter eine acsyoreds) «sete WWAl CLOT St Spateve toatl ciete evs tieidzs elioreieueas 5

g2 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Name. Address. Acres.
Mme athernh wy Wicd Koece she oe ee tiene element SaliISWUBy Xho eileretattieciek voles 5)
Miessicks 7DNOSiuHis canto sla Coe Nan tiCOkes oiiys2steest cette ene 10
INWbber MaunicenGs. 6s aic.ceaidee see IN ATUETCOMRG! 05,6 once o eon ene Remee be shee 5
INGER SUI OLS Wee oiiiao arn rest choreete eae ecanst eee INA COKG; Sails teense che aeees 10
Pamrles "CHAS Nae hin cisternae Ralee INANGICOKG aes ah ic eee ee 10
Robinson Vasari s,s cktersiekee de hie INUIT COK G16 sca op geste accra oil ode aie 10
Robertson VHarrya Cease cers toe Wihitte Velavemis. cera cere ay ate -aeneds 5
SETECEE ZG COR IW ercieentorctee tinue nicl aioe cia INamtiCOke st 2i.-c cea ee eee 10
Muamner: Ai CO nP ya cvers er sate orate iserelcicee isis SINGAMG COKE Sarsccnre ie oko Receeene =
Waihiite: iSamiel SMS eyeptectcs el cise etererenennte Wihitte ay eM cirri cis keke eee 5
Walliams: sHimers© je eee ao erences Salishulya we se ete ae 15)
IWihitee Same lula cet select aa ent ee Wihite BEavienr. ccc cers gets, <1 etcree 4
Wie Piet lees) iia aeeetes cians iets sree ee White Haveniea.scserk ce fone 5
AY. Yrdl Wee a ak ype) ravi Eee leds ieee eee oe SadiSDUriy: \-.:. steko eecee ces evans 5
Wiliams vib Ose RiP teas ets auatemerrete SALISDULGY= sate sateriacis see ciaiees ieee 5
Willley.e NINOS" diaycer sleucievsts torneta cies siete INSEL COKE Wats wis ee clones am oro 10
Willey pO beredn. acibttoe oie esters nw onrctae INATITICOKE® jax. sees o tale echo ee 10
\YAUOU) Ken Apis fal oes Are ee ee repearieneh te Est ity Bue ee INN COKE 2s: cre wis ahenctetesceepswopney eee 10
Walter: SRODErG JUN. leseltieve ivan tdehalicuenct eep INANIULCOKE 5 tia ccarerst cca erence
Winters Am mic aie. y clope amtete siete re shake caren INamMtiCOKes wots tera ee eee 10
\YVAzT he) Ped BA DKON Aad faadin oan bio Bicdicaom Genie e eane INaNtiCOKE!3ick ate cs siren ee 10
Walliams Jennieshites cee Sot INANITECOKE): oe: che sists shows hac tee ee 10

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 93

ForMs oF APPLICATION.

It is deemed expedient to reproduce herewith the several forms of
application adopted by the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, with
reference to the various classes of applicants, to wit: Riparian Own-
ers, Boatmen and Applicants Without Priority, under the Haman
Oyster Culture Law.

Form B.
APPLICATION FOR A LEASE
To THE BoarD or SHELL F1sH COMMISSIONERS OF MARYLAND.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TMOG i ACTED AO ese 6 Ol ocea AOB OOS OAs CRIN OOG DOOR ORE A OcD rman nic otros
GENCSULCME OF cnc rs esa a aRoR areal oleae a) o/s iors) shen e e'ate. + , in the State of Mar pe
respectfully shows: ;

1st. That this applicant is a citizen of said State of Maryland, residing in
5ST CRC RID ROCHON eee ieee iv teINLCLe CfOTeESQid.

2nd. That he wishes and intends to use the grounds hereinafter described for
planting or cultivating oysters.

3rd. That at the time of the opening for oyster culture of the areas of

X77 I AEs Beaker con Ont kOe. ene Grok Meera ry Rennie eS Se a , and at the present
LENG eA. L Rone el totoraetalne oie tar cr nates eae , he was, and is, the owner of a certain
lot, tract, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being on the waters of
(AU Desiees ait Cats hG GIG 8 OR IGoa CRO ERO TNC OES , in said State, having a water front
Off SUNPIKAUIS te ie GeO OOo yards; and that the area adjacent to the riparian

lands of this applicant was opened for a culture as aforesaid within four
months from date hereof..

The undersigned, therefore, requests hereby, that said Board lease to.......
RSP sischapen sacra er eho tatiot cra eyslou® eyfavetonaa tek the ten teste robe , in the name and on behalf of the
SUCER DOE DU GIEOUGKIGI. “Soc Gob IOO.0' OS BGO On CAT CIOS GOS OL ICI CIOS CO OC CIRO ore acres
of ground located under the waters of the State of Maryland, which ground is
adjacent to the aforesaid land, as aforesaid, and is more particularly described
as follows, to wit:

aul elleie! sive (¢\[e)\e) ae) \0) @:\e) 0/66 ©) w 10 (8), ef6)o (ele © eh6, 6Le) 410 ee » 0)0)-4) 6\u €).0 es 0 @ ale 0) 0 (60 ce e)ee) 6) ee o6\0 € ¢ 0 € 6 6 8 e.@

aie? (eine = (es © 2 a @ ee & =e © 6 Om is \e)'m 6 ©) 8/6 © Se; o16) w, 6).@ 0, 06 6) 6 8 © 06 60: 010 6 0 6 6 0 © 06 0 © 6 « 016) 014 oe ec 0 8 0 6

JOGO) SUT ae ee A ARO, my ic Croke ee eR RVC ASLOTUC GIVES lencwle aie) cero Pal ais iets i'suers day
Oi eee , in the year one thousand nine hundred and..........

Crain GLa) lo @kw je) s) (ai S).0) (6, 6) e) eel 6) ele wielielees hn: /9).s],0 0 6) Sle) 6 10) 6) ale ©

Applicant.

94 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Form C.
APPLICATION FOR A LEASE

To THE BOARD OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS OF MARYLAND.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SM KOH TY NULLA RAOY (MOY fends OE ts ROR AMAIA A DI Ree Alois, SCION OO TIC OO BIAGo 6 daale 6 a0 v6
QS ESLAICIA, Ofytapre otelarec ate Shen Gots eee ekeionoke ei eleteiiake , in the State of Maryland,
respectfully shows:

1st. That this applicant is a citizen of said State of Maryland, residing in

Se abel rome gece enewedetolate ey aveiietenobsrerokebe a chavene , in the State aforesaid.

2nd. That upon the date of opening for oyster culture of the areas of
CHUL 5.8, 6 Blo DIG. HOG DIED OL. O.0 ONOU.d ond , or upon the closing date of the last dredging,
SCLODINGROT. LONGING SEUSON, AN. SHUG: taielevsiele ol ele)orelerelelels/ enter -iorenstelalotel ete , said date

being not less than four months, and not more than ten months from date hereof,
he was a boatman engaged in the business of dredging, scraping or tonging for
oysters within the areas of said State.

3rd. That he wishes and intends to use the grounds adjacent to a certain lot,
tract, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in said.......... HPN SPNA ti
County, having a water frontage of at least..........000.0e- yards; the title to
WACK SOLA NANG, 48 VESTER: TUG) CONUAUIU are clavesc | ctehoieie! else crepes 6 ciojers eicusensiidereleleeReaie

The undersigned, therefore, requests hereby, that said Board lease to him, in
the name and on behalf of the State of Maryland, .............eeceeeeee acres
of ground, located under the waters of the State of Maryland, which ground is
adjacent to the aforesaid land, as aforesaid, and is more particularly described
as follows, to wit:

eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee er esese ees eseeesreesreseeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeesoeeeee

Ce Se 2

eer eee eee eee eee eee seers eeeeeeseeeereeeeeeeree

Applicant.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 95

Form D.
APPLICATION FOR A LEASE

To THE BoARD OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS OF MARYLAND.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

The application of

eee eerer seer ere reer essere see eee ees ese eee sees ee ese eerseoeeses

TRIM UAE OH COCR. COG.0 OA OOOO Dn E200 ON GUO GEG OOtn , in the State of Maryland,
respectfully shows:

1st. That this applicant is a resident of said State.

2nd. That he wishes and intends to use the grounds hereinafter described for
planting or cultivating oysters.

The undersigned, therefore, requests hereby, that said Board lease to

LOI tte HODGE O GG OOO UG COO OISIO CICLO To CNC ooG , in the name and on behalf of the
SHE Op TER TITIOUISS 66.4 5 50 bo ADOC OOS OOOO ORL OO bOD ODOUR DOD OU gea OOo Gor acres

of ground located under the waters of ‘the State of Maryland, which ground is
more particularly described as follows, to wit:

eos estes

Be a Fated Mo (cos Neyo Me po oP ox, alfa 3a y0/ ne (oie, iwi ly elpal = Siec6) v's] bya Syatebes'e! <u taiew aYui= Siw: ail aja leva
TV OTC ONDER. teastareroinie state veveteleiot cals tak exerrai oie , Maryland, tls... 2. ces ee ees - day
“01] SE SIMCRe SI , in the year one thousand nine hundred and..........

ee rere eee eee eee eee ee esesreeseeseeeeseseeeee

Applicant.

96 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

FORM OF LEASE.

For the information of those interested in Oyster Culture in Mary-
land, the form of lease adopted by the Board is published herewith.

Form B.
LEASE.

The Board of Shell Fish Commissioners of Maryland, pursuant to the pro-
visions of Chapter 711, of the Acts of 1906, does hereby lease, in the name of

ELE SEOEE Of. MARY LOMARENIS aiein ctetelootee eiaieiereincie LY OF skied sieht ee , m
the year nineteen hundred and............-. SOUT serrate aueteve siiaietral ce au Mpa ake , for
OMEN Of ME WENTY TY CATS VE GINNAILG) OT. ELE aia els cies cis tanheteie ae eieioe eeerees day of
SAN Star Act atta RS Taube toaahs tevchehaatts 1 NANECLEEN MUMGTEE GIG ermiencc)stonie cle as aici a ase OIL
CNAING TON NGILC cietnaee ec chalereiciohs lara iene eee QU OPM erasers teens elatieke eee , mneteen
WUNGU COUN tauaiterecne siemens ate rotoreeenederectene

SAS ne G alet eree is ethcne et alicReasrereyapae hereby accepts the above

Lease, subject to all the provisions of the said Chapter 711, of the Acts of 1906,
and especially subject to the payment of the rentals provided for in said Act.
BOARD OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS OF MARYLYAND,

eee eee wwe www www eee wee eee eee ee eee see ee eee eee ereeseeeeeeseeeeeeeseeeeeseeeseeeeeees

_———

ag

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. Q7

RECOMMENDATIONS.
FOREWORD.

As viewed and recommended by the Board of Shell Fish Com-
missioners, the chief aim of future oyster legislation in Maryland
should be to conserve and develop all of our oyster resources in
ways calculated to restore the State eventually to the pre-eminent
position in oyster production it formerly held among the Atlantic
Coast States; and to so manage and administer these resources that
a great revenue shall be returned by them to the State treasury for
the benefit of the entire State.

Th necessity for adequate legislation looking toward these two
results has been increasingly felt for more than thirty years. Dur-
ing this period, however, the aim of practically all oyster legislation
has been directed toward preventing the depletion and destruction of
the natural oyster beds through over-fishing, by placing limits and
restrictions of one kind or another upon the methods and instru-
ments which may be employed in gathering the natural product from
the public fishery grounds. These measures have done nothing more
than make the destructive processes less rapid, and in spite of all
the work that has been carried on under them, the output from the
public oyster fishery of the State has gradually declined both in
quantity and quality, and, as a result, our oyster packers have been
unable to compete successfully for the oyster trade with the packers
and growers of other more progressive States, and, greatly to the
discredit of our administrative capacity, our oyster resources have
become an expense to the State instead of a source of great revenue.

Practically nothing has been done to extend the area or increase
the yield of the natural oyster bars, and, for many years, almost no
provision was made whereby that enormous area of hard bottom,
situated outside the limits of the natural oyster beds, could be sub-
jected to practical tests to determine and develop its value for oyster
production.

After years of discussion the State finally decided in 1906 to try
what can be done for the oyster industry by an industry in real
oyster culture to be established and conducted by private citizens
upon the grounds not now occupied by the public oyster fishery.

98 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

At this time Chapter 711, generally known as the Haman Oyster
Culture Law, was added to the Public General Laws of the State,
and it was intended that this law should provide the legal basis upon
- which to found such an industry and grant such rights and privi-
leges as are necessary to the success of those who lease lots for the
purposes of oyster culture and engage in the eriterprise.

This law provided, however, that before any bottoms should be
leased for oyster culture purposes, a careful and accurate survey
of the natural oyster beds should be made to determine the position
and limits of the grounds reserved as a public oyster fishery, and,
in its provisions for this oyster survey, the law is a most satisfactory
instrument. The survey has been so conducted, and its results have
been so satisfactory to those who have been hitherto bitterly opposed
to oyster culture, that much of the opposition to perfecting the
oyster culture features of the law has been thereby removed. More
than 200,000 acres of the best oyster-producing bottoms of the
State have, as a result of the survey, been charted and reserved to
the public oyster fishery, an area which greatly exceeds any estimate
of the area of the natural. bars of the State which had previously
been made. Such a result could not fail to convince those who
derive their livelihood from the natural oyster bars that the State
has no thought of sacrificing in any way the public oyster fishery
rights and interests to oyster culture.

It has been ascertained during the survey also that the State owns
more than 300,000 acres of bottoms now barren and exhausted,
situated outside the limits of the natural oyster bars, which are
valuable for oyster production, and that about 100,000 acres of this
area 1s so situated and constituted that, by the application of mod-
ern methods of oyster culture, it can be made as productive of
oysters as the bottoms now occupied by the natural oyster bars.

The results of the work carried on under the Haman Oyster Cul-
ture Law for the establishment of an oyster culture industry such
as was intended, on the other hand, have been far from satisfactory,
and it has been clearly demonstrated that the law in its present form
fails to provide the necessary legal basis upon which to build up an
industry in oyster culture. It withholds from lessees of oyster !ts
certain rights and privileges which are absolutely essential to success
in oyster planting operations.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 99

A study of the conditions under which thriving industries 1
oyster culture have been established in other Atlantic Coast States,
where natural conditions are less favorable to the production of
oysters than in Maryland, also shows that Maryland has stopped
short of offering sufficient inducements to her citizens to lease the
available oyster lands and plant and cultivate oysters upon them.
Lessees have not been assured that success in such an enterprise
will depend solely upon their having successfully overcome the
natural difficulties and run the ordinary risks inherent in all oyster
planting operations.

It is the hope and belief of the advocates of oyster culture for
Maryland that the selected product from cultivated grounds will
supplement and give greater value to, and greater demand for, the
“run-of-the-rock” product which is put upon the market from the
natural oyster beds and, until the proposed scheme of oyster cul-
ture has been given a fair trial, the State should see that it is not
abandoned.

It is folly to expect and wrong to urge our citizens to lease the
waste oyster bottoms and attempt to develop them until the law is
so amended as to provide the rights and privileges demonstrated to
be, and universally accepted to be, essential to success in oyster
culture and, to the end that the restrictions imposed upon oyster
planters in their operations upon bottoms leased from the State for
the purposes of oyster culture may be as few and as limited as is
consistent with the rights pertaining to the public oyster fishery, the
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners therefore recommends the fol-
lowing amendments, which it considers to be of fundamental im-
portance to oyster planters.

AMENDMENTS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO
ONSTER PEANTLERS.

1. Providing for Increase in Area of Lots which may be leased.

It is essential that the area which may be leased by the State to
an individual for the purposes of oyster culture be increased to not
less than thirty acres, if situated in sections where the method of
taking oysters from the natural oyster bars is limited to tonging,
and to not less than five hundred acres when situated in sections
where oysters may be taken from the natural bars with dredges or

100 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Comnussioners.

scrapes. For the protection of the natural oyster bars, however,
provision may be made that no bottoms situated within one-eighth
mile of any natural oyster bar may be leased for the purposes of
oyster culture.

2. Providing for Privilege of Dredging on Leased Lots.

Section 112 should be changed to read as follows: “It shall not
be necessary for any holder of oyster land under this Act to take
out any license for dredging, scraping or tonging oysters on any
land so held by him, and oysters on such land may be taken in any
manner and at such times between sunrise and sunset of any week
day between the fifteen day of September, in any year, and the
fifteenth day of June in the following year, as may be desired by the
holder of such land; provided, however, oysters on leased lands
can not be taken up with dredges or scrapes either in the tributaries
or bay when situated within tonging limits at a distance of less than
one-eighth of a mile from the legal boundary of any natural oyster
bar; and provided further, that oysters on the said leased lands
can not be taken up with dredges or scrapes during those seasons
in which tonging, scraping or dredging, as the case may be, are not
allowed on the legally established natural oyster bars within the
districts in which said lands are located, except on such days and at
such times as heretofore provided, after written notification from
one or more lessees, as may have been previously arranged by said
lessees, together with a total fee of four dollars per day for each
day covered by said notification, has been delivered forty-eight
hours in advance to the Commander or Deputy Commander of the
State Fishery Force of the oyster district in which said lands are
located; and still further provided, that the period of policing ser-
vice of said Commander or Deputy Commander of said oyster dis-
tricts, together with all the powers of arresting and prosecuting
violators of the law under the terms of this Act, shall be extended
so as to include the entire season within which lessees of oyster
lands are permitted to tise scrapes and dredges, and that said fee of
four dollars per day shall be paid to said Commander or Deputy
Commander in lieu of all compensation and expenses of the extra
policing duty entailed by this Act which are not otherwise provided
by law.”

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 101

3. Providing for Privilege of Securing Seed Oysters.

t

Section 111 should be amended to read as follows: “It shall be
lawful for any tongman during the month of September in any
year, to take oysters of any size from such natural beds or bars in
any part of the tonging districts of the State, within the tributaries
of the Chesapeake bay, that the Commission may mark out for that
purpose, and under such regulations as said Commission may from
time to time prescribe; provided, however, that said Commission
shall not prescribe any area other than the following: Broad creek,
Harris creek and that part of the Potomac river from and above a
line from Lower Cedar Point wharf, on the Maryland shore, to
Persimmon Point, on the Virginia shore; but dredge boats may not
take any oysters from any of the beds or bars situated in the tong-
ing districts of the State; and it is further provided that said oysters
may be sold only, during the month of the year above mentioned, to
persons engaged in the industry of planting and cultivating oysters
within the area designated by this Act, the same to be delivered
only upon lands which have been leased under the provisions of this
Act for such purpose of planting or cultivating oysters. Further,
it shall be lawful for any licensed dredge boat, during the month of
September in any year, to take oysters of any size from the natural
beds or bars within that part of the Chesapeake bay situated north
of a straight line between Bodkin Point, on the Western Shore, and
Swan Point, on the Eastern Shore, excluding, however, the whole
of Swan Point Oyster bar, said oysters to be taken and disposed of
only for the same purpose and under the same regulations as are
prescribed, in the foregoing part of this section, for the oysters taken
by tongmen from Broad creek, Harris creek and that part of Poto-
mac river above a line from Lower Cedar Point wharf, on the
Maryland shore, to Persimmon Point, on the Virginia shore; but
tongmen may not take any oysters from any of the beds or bars in
this part of the Chesapeake bay during the month of the year above
mentioned, Swan Point Oyster bar excepted.”

DISCUSSION.

The three changes in the Haman Oyster Culture Law outlined in
the foregoing recommendations are considered by the Board of
Shell Fish Commissioners to be the minimum from which nothing

102 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

can be omitted without thereby failing to provide a basis in law such
as is required for the devlopment of a great industry in oyster cul-
ture upon our unproductive oyster lands.

By their enactment oyster planters will be permitted to lease areas
sufficiently large to justify them in the purchase of an equipment
adequate to the work of properly cultivating and policing oyster
grounds; the restrictions which now prevent the use of such an
equipment by planters will be removed and oyster planters will be
permitted to secure seed oysters small enough so that the antict-
pated increase through growth will be sufficient to induce citizens
of the State to lease the bottoms available for oyster culture and at-
tempt to develop their possibilities for oyster production.

Although these privileges are considered by oyster planters every-
where to be essential to success in oyster culture and are enjoyed by
oyster planters in all those States in which oyster culture is carried
on successfully, they are withheld from planters in Maryland.
Under our law in its present form it is not possible for a citizen to
lease more than ten acres of bottom for the purposes of oyster cul-
ture in those localities where dredging on the natural oyster beds
is prohibited, and hence where conditions are most favorable to the
establishment and development of oyster culture. The greatest pos-
sible profits from planting on ten acres of bottom are too small to
warrant a lessee of such a lot in the purchase of the expen-
sive equipment required for its cultivation and protection. On
these most valuable bottoms, also, lessees are restricted by the
present law to the use of tongs for cultivating and gathering
their planted oysters. The use of dredges from power boats is pro-
hibited. The use of tongs for gathering oysters is a slow and ex-
pensive method at best, and can be profitably employed only in case
the bottom is closely stocked with oysters; hence lessees of oyster
lots in localities where dredging is prohibited are compelled to plant
their oysters so thickly upon the bottom that the available supply of
oyster food in the water is insufficient to provide for their proper
nourishment and growth. The numerous failures in oyster culture
which are due to such overplanting can be largely avoided when the
right to gather planted oysters with a dredge from a power boat
has been granted. Planters will then be able to take into account
the oyster food supply and distribute their oysters accordingly, for
no matter how scatteringly oysters may be distributed over the bot-

Report of the Board of Sheil Fish Commissioners. 103

tom, they can be rapidly and economically gathered with such an
equipment. ‘The law in its present form has been construed to with-
hold from oyster planters the right to secure a supply of small
oysters from overstocked natural oyster bars for planting purposes,
thus forcing lessees of oyster lots to plant oysters already grown to
marketable size, for which the price of marketable stock must be
paid. The amendments recommended by the Commission not only
enable lessees of oyster lots to secure small seed oysters, but also to
secure them at the time of year when physical conditions in the
Chesapeake bay and its tributaries are such that oysters may be
transplanted from one locality to another with the least possible risk
of injury to the oysters. The argument in favor of the plan to
change the time of transplanting oysters in Maryland from Spring
to Fall is discussed and explained in another part of this report,
but, in further support of the plan, it may be stated that the “‘set”
which attaches to the natural oyster beds in Connecticut is annually
transplanted to the planted grounds in the Fall, and, in Virginia,
the small oysters produced on the seed beds in the upper part of the
James river are transplanted to the bay in the Fall also.

Any change in the law which contemplates the granting of one of
these privileges and withholding the others, will be futile so far as

the establishment of oyster culture is concerned. Planters can

make no use of greater areas in the absence of the privilege of
using dredges on such areas for cultivating and gathering the oysters
planted upon them, and it would be just as futile to provide for
rapid and improved means of cultivation without at the same time
providing for areas sufficiently large to warrant the expense of em-
ploying such means. Without large areas and the right to employ
up-to-date and economical means of cultivating them, there can be
no great demand for seed oysters, and, on the other hand, in the
absence of the possibility of obtaining a supply of small oysters for
planting purposes, there can be no very great demand for large
oyster farms and no inducement for planters to provide themselves
with the expensive equipment required for large oyster planting
operations. |

The Shell Fish Commission has been subjected to criticism be-
cause of its firm stand against any compromise by which it might
have been possible to have secured one of the above mentioned
changes in the law by abandoning its fight for the other two. The

104 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

Commission is convinced that any one of these three fundamental
privileges is valuable to the oyster culture scheme only when sup-
plemented by the others, and it is fully justified in the position it
takes with reference to them—ALL or NONE.

In support of this contention, the following carefully prepared
statement from Dr. H. F. Moore, the oyster expert of the U. S.
Bureau of Fisheries, is hereto added:

“Mr. Walter J. Mitchell, Chairman of the Maryland Shell Fish
Commission, Annapolis, Md.:

“My Dear Mr. Mitchell—I have just returned to Washington
after an absence of six weeks, and am glad to be again in touch with
the Maryland oyster situation, though I regret to learn that there
is but a remote probability that the amendments asked for by your
Commission will be favorably acted on by the present Legislature.

“In view of the complexity of the issue, I am apprehensive that
there may be some attempt to compromise the matter by passing
some of the amendments, perhaps in a modified form, and rejecting
the others, a course against which I venture to strongly advise.

““As I view the case, the amendments asked for represent the ir-
reducible minimum necessary to perfect the law and make it effective.
The elimination of any part of the amendments will be against the
interests of the State, oyster culture and the oyster industry as a
whole, and will seriously retard the assumption of the position to
which Maryland’s natural advantages entitle her. The amendments
were proposed after careful consideration, all not absolutely essen-
tial was eliminated, and there was nothing inserted for the purpose
of trading or compromise.

“T do not believe that your Commission can afford to acquiesce,
even under stress, to measures which will militate against the inter-

ests entrusted to your care. I do not understand that you even con-

template such action, but feel that my connection with the Maryland
survey makes it obligatory, in justice to myself, to express myself
frankly. Should an unsatisfactory compromise be accomplished,
the odium of its failure as a practical measure must fall on all who
acquiesced in its perpetration. If the recommendations of the Com-
mission be rejected, the responsibility will lie on those who opposed
them, and we who have endeavored to give the subject our best study
will be absolved.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 105

“T have returned from the oyster-producing States of the Gulf
Coast more than ever convinced that the States on the Chesapeake
bay must give the oyster question the calmest, widest and broadest
consideration if they hope to successfully withstand the competition
which they are yearly feeling more keenly. It is not necessary to
point out to you that Maryland has already lost trade to Louisiana
and Mississippi. There have recently been developments in oyster
culture in Texas which will soon make themselves felt in the mar-
ket, while Alabama and Mississippi have latent possibilities to which
they are just awakening.

“In Louisiana alone the product has grown from 1,200,000 bush-
els in 1902 to 3,600,000 bushels in 1908 under the stimulus of excel-
lent laws passed since the former date. The product of the planted
beds in 1908 was equal to the entire production of the State in 1902,
while the yield of the natural beds, instead of decreasing, as the
opponents of oyster culture predict would be the case in Maryland,
has actually doubled during the same period.

“As you well know, my interest in the oyster industry is national.
There is room for development in all oyster-producing States, and I
do not regard it as necessary for one section to develop at the ex-
pense of another.

“Sincerely yours,

“AY Fo MiooRE.’

AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO
TEES LAGE:

4. Collection of Rents.

Irom the standpoint of the State there is one serious defect in the
lav. as originally drafted and enacted whereby it has been found
to be impossible to collect the rents due for the use of lots leased
from the State for the purpose of oyster culture or to prevent indi-
viduals from appropriating and using oyster lands for oyster plant-
ing operations without having first leased them from the State.

It was supposed by the framers and advocates of the oyster cul-
ture law that the demand for oyster lots would be so great and the
need by oyster planters for the protection afforded by the State
would be so pressing that little difficultv would be found in leasing
the grounds open for lease or in collecting rents for the use of the

106 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

same. The only provision, therefore, made in the law by which the
Commission may enforce the payment of rent is that contained in
Section 98, which reads as follows:

“Tf any part of the rent reserved under such leases shall remain
unpaid for more than six months, after the same becomes due, such
lease or leases shall be declared void, and the land shall revert to the
State, and may be leased again in accordance with the provisions of
CHISH A Chace ite n

A very considerable number of lots are now held and used for

oyster planting purposes by planters who pay no tent to the State.
Some of these lots have been surveyed, records have been made of

the surveys, and leases have been issued to the holders, but others

are being held and used without any formality having been entered

into between the holders and the State. The opposition to oyster

culture is not sufficiently strong in certain communities to compel
planters to secure the protection of the State by complying with the
provisions of the law.

The State, having expended a Sonat iei ie sum in perfecting the
conditions under which oyster culture may be successfully carried
on, should now take the necessary steps to prohibit the use of ground
for oyster culture by persons who do not hold leases to the ground
or who are delinquent in the payment of rent, and the Commission
recommends that the following be added as a section of the law
under which all of the provisions of Section 98 may be enforced.

“Tt shall be unlawful for any person other than a lessee under this
Act, or for any lessee under this Act, while he shall be in default in
payment of rent, to appropriate to himself for any purpose, any of
the barren bottoms under the waters of this State, which are, by the
provisions of this Act, subject to lease, or to use such barren bot-

toms in any way for the purpose of bedding, planting or cultivating

oysters; and any person violating any of the provisions of this sec-
tion shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon indictment
and conviction in any circuit court for any county in this State, or
in the Criminal Court of Baltimore, before which such case 1s tried,
shall be fined the sum of fifty dollars for each violation thereof.
Each day during which, or in which any of the acts prohibited by
this section may be performed, shall constitute a separate violation

of its provisions. It shall be the duty of the State’s Attorney of the
county having jurisdiction, at the request of the Board of Shelf

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 107

Fish Commissioners, to prosecute any one violating the provisions
of this section. The net proceeds of fines collected under this sec-
tion shall be applied as follows: One-half of the same shall be paid
to the informer, if any, and the remainder shall be applied according
to the provisions of Section 118 of this Article.”

OTHER AMENDMENTS DESIRABLE BUT NOT
FUNDAMENTAL.

5. Extension of Period for Payment of One-Dollar Rentals.

After a careful consideration of conditions which have attended
the establishment of oyster culture in Maryland since the passage of
the Haman Oyster Culture Law by the General Assembly of 1906,
and in response to a demand among oyster planters for a reduction
of rentals charged by the State for he use of barren bottoms, until,
at least, a reasonable opportunity has been accorded those who have,
or may hereafter become engaged in oyster culture, to demonstrate
the wisdom of such a policy in Maryland, the Commission recom-
mends that the provision of Section 98, under which the rate of
rentals gradually increases until a maximum of five dollars per acre
is reached on the sixth year of the lease, be suspended for a period
of six years, dating from April 1, 1912, on all leases which have
heretofore or which may hereafter be made, to the end that all ren-
tal charges to April 1, 1918, shall be fixed at the rate of one dollar
per acre per annum.

6. Respecting Non-Residents of the State.

Under the provisions of the Haman Oyster Culture Law, bona
fide residents of the State of Maryland only may lease grounds for
oyster culture.

It is possible, however, that when citizens of the State shall have
leased such bottoms as they desire to cultivate, some of the bottoms
available and suitable for oyster culture will yet remain an open and
unproductive common.

The Commission therefore recommends that such bottoms availa-
ble for oyster culture as may not be leased to citizens of the State
within two years from the date of opening such bottoms for lease,
be opened for lease for oyster culture to non-residents of Maryland.

108 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

7. Preventing Oyster Planting in Water Contaminated with
Sewage. .

The Shell Fish Commission realizes that its most important
duties are those of pointing out the defects in the scheme of oyster
culture which has been adopted by Maryland and of assisting, in
every way possible, in the removal of these defects. It hesitates,
therefore, to recommend more than it is reasonable to expect can
be carried out, or to suggest any thing which can be used in any
way to cloud the issue.

For this reason the many important problems of the fishery in-
terests of the State, with which the Commission has become more
or less familiar, although closely and in some cases vitally con-
nected with the oyster fishery, have been purposely avoided.

There is one situation, however, which is likely to develop in
connection with oyster culture, and will have to be met sooner or
later because of the very serious bearing it will have upon the whole
oyster industry of the State, and which, therefore, demands some
attention: that of the proximity of planted oyster grounds to water
contaminated with sewage.’ At the present time this situation can
hardly be said to exist in Maryland, and it is not now serious, but,
as oyster culture becomes more and more developed, grounds are
likely to be leased for the purposes of oyster culture in localities
where conditions may not be as free from sewage as the oyster
trade might desire, and, should the question as to the wholesome-
ness of our oyster be allowed to come up and be given publicity,
the damage to the whole oyster industry of the State would be

great. .
It is an easy matter to deal with this situation now, but it will
become more and more difficult if property rights are permitted to
be developed in localities where unsanitary conditions exist. The
Commission therefore suggests that the Oyster Culture law be so
amended as to make the granting of leases to lots for the purposes
of oyster culture by the Shell Fish Commission, subject to the ap-
proval of the State Board of Health.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

109
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
ORSETEAE
MARYLAND SHELL FISH COMMISSION
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, Igoo.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT Oct, 1, 1909. DISBURSEMENTS Oct. 1, 1909.

September 30, 1908 — Bal- Houseboat Oyster......... $ 1,507.35
ance on hand..........-.-$ *850.09 Postage, Expressage and In-

October 1, 1908 — General CLO EMEATS 5 Ad icsceslavsietiatd 2% 340.00
Appropriaticn under Chap- Buoys And oats 22 oh. sie. 760.00
ter 253 of the Acts of 1908 Chesapeake & Potomac Tel-
for the year 1908 to 1909. 25,000.00 EDhHOWe ICORLierieas siete ake 95.65

Salaries of Commissioners Advertising, Printing and
and Chief Clerk under OMicesSupplives vga. 507.07
Chapter 253 of the Acts Salaries of Commissioners. 5,599.98

OE TOUS Sao env ae 6,800.00

October 1, 1909 — Applica-
trom) Hee: Mund eke ex 300.00

October 1, 1999 — Record
lee a ila Sees cadena AA co 125.00
October 1,1909—Rent Fund 3,568.50

October 1, 1909 — Survey
HANI ses inte au eae 2] wate haves 24.30
$36,667.89

Swepson Harle’s Salary....
Salaries of Assistant Clerks

and Stenographer.......
Scientific and Hngineering

SUD DIVESD a tec orsva stake eels
Expense of Commission....
D521] GY O neti ear eee Rae aor erene
SUDSISHEMGE Rs. |. cue sictnsbenseereie
Thomas H. Robinson’s Sal-

EVD oe rat btivat Sisteners teaser cae
Assistant Engineers Salary
Rent of Office at Crisfield...
Capt. James A. Turner.....
Samuel B. Collyer.........
CharlesPHopkeins steers cs.
Rudolph; Glaser ise secretes
eH ERO DreChits. te. « sinience
Fy ONY CLOT. #/ SN eaeaatei ad avons
Samuei A. Harper—Money

ACV AEICOGK tis: aus ereheie Toad bck

2,500.00
2,461.67

178.33
1,089.39

FTO Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Ol inslS
MARYLAND SHELL FISH COMMISSION
FOR THE
PISCAL YEARS ENDING SEPT EMBER: 2051910:

FINANCIAL STATEMENT Oct. 1, 1910.

September 30, 1909 — Bal-

ANECVONY Eline ere eae presse: lk

October 1, 1909 — General
Appropriation under Chap-
ter 254 of the Acts of 1908
for year 1909 to 1910.... 25,000.00
Salaries of Commissioners
and Chief Clerk under
Chapter 254 of the Acts of

A DOS SMe eet ah etme 6,800.00
October 1, 1910 — Applica-

TOM MCCS RUMG ae eeee cieree 155.00
October 1,1910—Record Fee

1 EID ato eet a teh chee omen etn Re 65.00
October 1, 1910—Rent Fund 1,571.54

October 1, 1910 — Survey
TET ata Utara Wainy rare aL ES si 5.00

$36,778.61

DISBURSEMENT Oct. 1, 1910.

SUbSISTENCE LL. See onc acme ob Orolo
| DET 0X0) Dewey aries Sines cue Sots aber 4,066.52
Advertising, Printing and

Office Supplies........... 638.75
Postage, Expressage and In-

CIGEMEAIS Werue velenecehe tees 286.36
Buoys Nd aBOMtS ace eee 880.34
Houseboat Oyster......... 707.09
Scientific and Engineering

SUDDIHESimein at oe eerie 98.31
Expense of Commission.... 275.91
Salaries of Commissioners. 5,600.00

Salary of Chief Clerk...... 1,200.00

Salary of Engineer. 2,500.00
Salaries of Assistant ‘Clerks 2,500.00
Salaries of Assistant En-

STM ESOT ye vets taba lene este citeahe 3,441.68
Salary of Thos. H. Robin-

SOMs a @omnSele cave eek oe 975.00
Chas. Hopkins, Local Man,

Queen Anne’s County.... 100.00
Rudolph Glaser, Biologist. . 60.00
C..& P. Telephone Co... 2.2 130.73
Office and Rent Crisfield. . . 65.00
Samuel A. Harper—Money

AGVANGCEOM Me Gusekincetes fee 575.00

Capt. James A. Turner..... 2,173.20
National Marine Bank Rent 365.00
Swepson Harle—Money Ad-

VAMCCMG RAs ahuccsve mceanereee 101.40
BE. T. Shockley, Local Man,
MalbotyCounbtyees ces 25.00
W.H.Colbonurne, Local Man,
Dorchester County....... 120.00
Oliver FP. Wroten, Local
Man, Dorchester County. 95.00
W. T. Stevens, Local Man,
Baltimore County....... 30.00
Edw. S. Nevitt, Local Man,
Malho te Comm tygaee tere che 320.00
$31,146.48
BALANCE ON HAND........ 5,632.13
$36,778.61

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. TRE

APPENDIX.
fe

AN ACT ESTABLISHING OYSTER CULTURE IN MARY-
LAND AND? PROVIDING; FOR THE SURVEY OF
EE AD URAC SOW Silt R «BARS AND WT HEIR
RESERVATION AS A] PUBLIC OYSTER
FISHERY.

(Aproved April 2nd, 1900).
Chapter 711.

AN ACT to establish and promote the industry of oyster culture
in Maryland, to define and mark natural oyster beds, bars and
rocks lying under the waters of this State, to prescribe pen-
alties for the infringement of the provisions of this Act, and
to add new sections to Article 72 of the Code of Public Gen-
eral Laws, to follow Section 82, and to be designated re-
spectively as Sections 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93,
O4;. 05» (90;-07,.06;-09;, LOO; LOI, 102,103; 104, 105, 106, 107,
TOR GO. dnh@ aan tie Leena TTA, Why lie OLN ALE,
118, and 119.

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the following sections be and they are hereby added to
Article 72 of the Code of Public General Laws, title “Oysters,” to
follow section 82, and to be designated respectively as sections
83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99,
TOO WiOl) WO, Os elOs.e hOl, AO, LOZ <1Oc,, 109, 110, ‘E11, 112,
MEATTA Ts; ItGbh7 ilo and 160,

SecrTion 83. Any resident of Maryland shall have the right
to plant and cultivate oysters in the waters of this State; such right
shall be exercised in the manner prescribed in the following sections
of this Act, and shall be subject to the regulations, provisions and
limitations hereinafter set forth, but no corporation, or joint stock
company, shall be permitted to lease or take up, or to acquire by
assignment, or otherwise, any lands of the State for oyster planting
or cultivation. All natural beds or bars shall be excluded from the

©

I12 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

operation of this Act, and no person shall be permitted to plant or
cultivate oysters thereupon or in any way appropriate the same to
his own use.

SECTION 84. The Board of Shell Fish Commissioners of
Maryland is hereby created. The said Board shall consist of three
members, one of whom shall be a resident of one of the tidewater
counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, another a resident of
one of the tidewater counties of the Western Shore, and the third
a resident of the City of Baltimore, and one of whom shall be a
member of the minority party at the time of their appointment.
The term of each of the members of said Board shall be two years
from the first Monday in May after his appointment. They shall
be appointed by the Board of Public Works of the State of Mary-
land. No member of said Board of Shell Fish Commissioners
shall be in any manner interested in any land leased or taken up
for bedding, planting or cultivating oysters. The acts and duties
to be done and performed by said Board under this Act may be
done and performed by two of said Commissioners, and in all
cases, the decision of a majority of the Commissioners shall be
binding. One of said Commissioners shall be designated by the
Board of Public Works of the State of Maryland as president, and
his salary shall be Two Thousand Dollars a year. ‘The salary of
the other Commissioners shall be Eighteen Hundred Dollars a vear.
The said Commissioners shall be allowed to employ a chief clerk
upon a salary of Twelve Hundred Dollars a year, and such assist-
ants, not exceeding three in number, and not more than be abso-
lutely needed for the performance of the work of the Board, at
graded salaries, to be paid by the Commissioners, not to exceed
One Thousand Dollars a year for any such assistants, as it may
deem necessary to aid it in the proper performance of its duties, as
prescribed in this Act. The said Commissioners shall employ a
competent surveyor, who shall also be a hydrographic engineer,
upon a salary to be named by said Commissioners not exceeding
Twenty-five Hundred Dollars a year. If the Commissioners deem
it expedient to employ a hydrographic engineer, who is also a
biologist, capable of investigating oyster propagation, an engineer
of such qualification may, in their discretion, be employed. The
sum of Five Hundred Dollars per annum shall be appropriated,
to be expended under the direction of said engineer, if he be a

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. Lig

biologist, who shall, in that event, establish one or more stations
for said investigation of oyster propagation. All salaries, outlays
and disbursements authorized by this Act shall be paid out of the
general treasury of the State of Maryland upon requisition made
by the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, endorsed by the Comp-
troller of the State, but the same shall be repaid out of the first
revenues arising from the leasing of land for oyster culture con-
templated by this Act. The Commissioners composing said Board
shall, immediately after their appointment, file in the office of the
Clerk of the Court of Appeals separate bonds, with a surety or
sureties to be approved by the State Treasurer, in the sum of Ten
Thousand Dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the
duties imposed by this Act. The said Commissioners shall take
and subscribe before the Governor of the State an official oath pre-
scribed by the Constitution. The said Commissioners shall have
an office in the City of Annapolis.

Section 85. The Commissioners shall keep, at its office in
the City of Annapolis, books of record, in which shall be recorded
all leases, assignments and other conveyances of land to be used for
the planting or cultivation of oysters in accordance with this Act.
A set of clear and simple forms, for all subsequent conveyances of
any kind, shall be prepared by the Board, with the advice of the
Attorney-General, and no title shall be vested in any lessee or-trans-
feree of any interest or estate acquired under this Act until the
conveyance or conveyances evidencing such leases or transfers will
have been recorded in the office of the Board of Shell Fish Com-
missioners.

Section 86. The Board of Shell Fish Commissioners shall,
as soon as practicable, after the passage of this Act, cause to be
‘made a true and accurate survey of the natural oyster beds, bars
and rocks of this State, said survey to be made with reference to
fixed and permanent objects on the shore, giving courses and dis-
tances, to be fully described and set out in a written report of said
survey, as hereinafter required. A true and accurate delineation
of the same shall’be made on copies of published maps and charts
of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, which said copies
shall be filed in the office of the said Commissioners in the City of
Annapolis; and the said Commissioners shall further cause to be

114 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

delineated upon copies of the published maps and charts of the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, of the largest scale one
copy for each of the counties of this State in the waters of which
there are natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, all natural beds, bars
and rocks lying within the waters of such county, which maps
shall be filed in the office of the Clerks of the Circuit Court for the
respective counties, wherein the grounds so designated may lie.
The said survey shall be made by the hydrographic engineer em-
ployed by said Board, as provided in Section 84 of this Act, acting
under the direction and control of the said Commissioners. ‘he
said natural beds, or bars, shall be marked by buoys, which shali
be known as State, buoys. ;

SEcTION 87. The Governor of this State is hereby requested
to ask the assistance of the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur-
vey, and of the United States Fish Commissioner, to aid in the car-
rying out of the provisions of the preceding section.

Section 88. The County Commissioners of each and everv
county in this State, in which there are natural oyster beds, bars
or rocks, shall be authorized to appoint some resident of their said
county, who is well acquainted with the situation and location of
oyster beds, bars or rocks in the waters of such county, who shall
aid the said Board by furnishing any information he may possess,
concerning the situation and location of recognized oyster beds,
bars and rocks in the waters of such county, and who shall ac-
company the said Commissioners and the hydrographic engineer
appointed by said Board, but only within the limits of his county,
in the making of the survey of the natural oyster beds, bars and
rocks, as provided by this Act, the said appointee to receive a com-
pensation of Five Dollars per day when actually so engaged.

Section 89. As soon as practicable after the first day of April,
1906, the said Commissioners shall organize and shall at once pro-
ceed, with the assistance of such person or persons as may be de-
tailed by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the
United States Fish Commissioner, to aid them in their work, and of
such persons as may be appointed under the preceding sectina, to
have laid out, surveyed and designated on the said charts, the
natural beds, and bars, and shall cause to be marked ‘and defined
as accurately as practicable, the limits and boundaries of the natural

i tay

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. LS

beds, bars and rocks, as established by said survey, and they stall
take true and accurate notes of said survey in writing, and make an
accurate report of said survey, setting forth such a description of
land marks as may be necessary to enable the said Board, or their
successors, to find and ascertain the boundary lines of the said nat-
ural oyster beds, bars and rocks, as shown by a delineation of the
maps and charts provided in this Act; said report shail be com-
pleted and filed in the office of the Board in the City of Annapolis,
within ninety days after the completion of the survey of any
county. Said Commissioners shall cause the same to be published
in pamphlet form, and transmit copies of the same to the Clerk of
the Circuit Court for their respective counties, where the charts
have been filed or directed to be filed, as herinafter provided; the
said report to be filed by the Clerks of the several counties in a
book kept for that purpose. And the said survey and report, when
filed, subject to the right of appeal hereafter provided for in this
Act, shall be taken in all of the Courts of this State as conclusive
evidence of the boundaries and limits of all natural oyster beds,
bars and rocks, lying within the waters of the county wherein such
survey and report are filed, and shall be construed to mean in all of
the said Courts that there are no natural oyster beds, bars or rocks
lying within the waters of the counties wherein such report and
survey are filed, other than those embraced in the survey authorized
by this Act, and that all areas of the Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries within the State of Maryland, not shown in the survey
to be natural oyster beds, bars or rocks, shall be construed in all
the Courts of the State to be barren bottoms, and open for dis-
posal by the State for the purpose of private planting or propaga-
tion of oysters thereon under the provisions of this Act; provided
that the said survey and report shall not be so construed as to affect
in any manner the holdings by citizens of this State in any lot
which may have been appropriated or taken up under the laws of
this State prior to the approval of this Act.

SECTION 90. The said Board, in defining the natural beds and
bars, shall exercise its judgment liberally in favor of the natural
beds and bars, and allow a reasonable margin of the barren bot-
toms, rather than encroach on a natural bed or bar. The natural
beds or bars shall be bounded by straight lines, even though some

116 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

portions of barren bottoms may thus be necessarily included within
such lines.

SEcTION gi. If residents of any county, exceeding twenty-four
in number, shall, within four months after the filing of said survey
and report in such county, file in the Circuit Court for said county
a petition, in writing, attested by the oath of some one or more of
the petitioners, alleging that five or more adjacent acres of oyster
beds, bars or rocks, in such county, have been omitted from such
surveys, or that five or more acres of barren bottoms have been -
included in such survey and designating the location of same by a
plat, or as near as may be with reasonable certainty by such land
marks as will locate and designate the beds alleged to have been
omitted or included, a Judge of the Circuit Court for the said
county, after due notice given to the Board of Shell Fish Com-
missioners, shall proceed to hear testimony and decide the case, as
provided in the succeeding section, but this section shall not apply
where the ground claimed by the petitioners has been legally taken
up prior to the approval of this Act.

SECTION 92. Upon hearing a case presented by petition under
the preceding section, the Judge shall determine the question
whether the ground referred to in said petition is a natural bed or
barren bottom, and his finding on said question shall be final, and
shall be entered upon the records of the Board of Shell Fish Com-
missioners in their office in the City of Annapolis, and properly
marked on the copies of the plat as hereinbefore required.

SECTION 93. Such amended survey shall be filed in the offices
of the Clerks of the Circuit Court for the counties in which the
original surveys hereinbefore provided are required to be filed, and
when so filed, shall be conclusive evidence in all the Courts of this
State as to whether the area embraced therein is or is not a natural
oyster bed, bar or rock. .

SECTION 94. Whenever a petition is filed in the Circuit Court
for any county, as authorized in Section 91 of this Act, the parties
so petitioning shall deposit Twenty-five Dollars, to be returned to
the petitioners if the Judge shall determine in favor of the petition-
ers, but if the Judge shall determine adversely to the petitioners,
then said sum to be applied, so far as necessary, to the payment of

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. ig

costs incurred in the proceedings under said petition, and the bal-
ance to be returned to said petitioners.

SECTION 95. The said Board shall be authorized to call to their
assistance the County Surveyor of any county, whenever in their
judgment his assistance is necessary, and shall pay him for his
services such compensation as is authorized by law for his services
in other proceedings.

SECTION 96. The Board of Shell Fish Commissioners shall
cause an accurate survey of and delineation upon the maps and
charts aforesaid of all bottoms of the tributaries of the Chesapeake
Bay where grass grows and it is profitable to scrape for soft shell
or shedder crabs, and shall have such bottoms properly designated
by permanent objects on the shore, as provided hereinbefore for
natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, which said crabbing sections
shall be exempt from leasing for oyster culture.

SECTION 97. One of the steamers of the State Fishery Force
shall be kept in commission under the command of the Deputy
Commander and subject to the control and direction of the Com-
missioners from the first day of April in each year, until the first
day of October following, to assist the Board in the performance
of the duties imposed upon it by this Act, and the Deputy Com-
mander in each of the several districts of this State shall also be
subject to the control and direction of the said Commissioners
during the closed season for the taking and catching of oysters with
rakes and tongs, during the time the said Commissioners shall be
engaged in the respective districts in locating natural oyster beds,
bars and rocks, and shall give the said Commissioners every assist-
ance in their power.

SECTION 98. After the survey provided for herein shall have
been completed, it shall be the duty of the Board'of Shell Fish Com-
missioners to lease, in the name of the State of Maryland, tracts,
or parcels, of land beneath the waters of this State, whether within
the limits of the counties, or elsewhere, in the area to be opened for
oyster culture, according to the provisions of this Act, provided
that no tract so leased, if situated within the territorial limits of
any county in this State, shall contain less than one acre of land,
and if situated in any other place, no tract so leased shall contain

118 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

less than five acres. It shall be the duty of said Commissioners to
require that the tracts so leased shall be as nearly rectangular as is
convenient. It shall be the duty of the said Commissioners to de-
mand from each lessee payment of the rent each year in advance.
No person shall be permitted, by lease, assignment, or in any other
manner, to acquire a greater amount of land than ten acres situated
within the territorial limits of any of the counties, or one hundred
acres in any other place. Leases shall be made only to residents
of Maryland. ‘The term of such leases shall be twenty years, and
the annual rent reserved to the State shall be one dollar per acre
for each of the first two years of said term of twenty years; two
dollars per acre for the third year; three dollars per acre for the
fourth year; four dollars per acre for the fifth year; and five dol-
lars per acre during the remainder of the term. If any part of the
rent reserved under such leases shall remain unpaid for more than
six months, after the same becomes due, such lease or leases shall
be declared void, and the land shall revert to the State, and may be
leased again in accordance with the provisions of this. Act. The
said Commissioners may at the request of any lessee, if it shall ap-
pear equitable so to do, upon the cause shown in writing, cancel
his lease as to the whole or a part of the lands leased.

SECTION 99. In case the survey provided for by this Act shall
not have been completed within one year from the passage of this
Act, then it shall be the duty of the Board of Shell Fish Commis-
sioners to begin the leasing of barren bottoms in the manner, and
upon the terms provided in the preceding section, provided that
such leasing shall then commence only in those areas in which the
survey provided for in this Act shall have been completed.

SECTION 100. For a period of four months after the said sur-
vey shall have been completed, or after any area shall have been
opened to leasing under the preceding sections, citizens of Mary-
land, residing in any part of the State, who, at the time of the
completion of said survey, or at the respective times of the opening
for oyster culture of several areas, as the case may be, may be
owners of land having a water front upon any part of the said
areas so opened to oyster culture, shall have the exclusive right to
rent any land opened to oyster planting under the provisions of this
Act, adjacent to their lands. And for an additional period of six

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commussioners. 119

months, after the expiration of the said period of four months all
boatmen, residents of this State, who shall be engaged in the busi-
ness of dredging, scraping or tonging for oysters at the time of
the completion of the said survey, or at the respective times of the
opening for oyster culture of several areas, or if said survey shall
be completed, or the said areas shall be opened to oyster culture
during the closed season for dredging, scraping or tonging, as the
case’ may be, then the persons so engaged at the end of the last
dredging, scraping or tonging season, shall have the like exclusive
right in the order of their respective application, as the same may
be received and opened by the Commissioners, to rent any adjacent
lands, provided that 1n no event shall any such land owner, boat-
man or any other person, be permitted to rent or acquire more
than ten acres, or one hundred acres, as the case may be, dependent
upon the situation of the land which is leased or acquired; and pro-
vided further, that no such riparian land owner, as is mentioned in
this section, shall be entitled to rent the amount of ten acres, or one
hundred acres, as the case may be, unless the water front of the
land so owned by him, if fronting on water within the territorial
limits of a county, be at least two hundred yards, or if fronting on
waters in any other place, be at least seven hundred yards. The
owners of land having a less water front than is mentioned above
shall be entitled to rent a proportionately less amount of land, de-
pendent upon the length of the front upon water within county
limits or elsewhere.

SEcTION tot. Blank forms of application shall be furnished
upon reasonable charges, to be prescribed by the Board of Shell
Fish Commissioners, to any person desiring the same. All such
forms shall be printed and shall be substantially in the following
languages: Application for a lease to the Board of Shell Fish
Commissioners of Maryland. The Application of
eMgesSGleN ts Od. ean a County, in the State of Maryland, re-
spectfully shows that he is a resident of said State; that he wishes
and intends to use the grounds hereinafter described for planting
or cultivating oysters. He therefore requests that said Board lease
to him, in the name and on behalf of the State of Maryland ......
acres of ground located under the waters of the State of Maryland,
which ground is more particularly described as follows, to-wit:

120 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

(Describe here) sated atyeernt ear ont , Maryland, this .... day
Obs Bicone as Ja, PS Bak Sp atta , Applicant.

SECTION 102. When the period of ten months will have elapsed
after said survey shall have been completed, or after the lands be-
neath the waters of any area shall have been opened to leasing un-
der Section 99 of this Act, the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners
shall endeavor to lease the remaining portions of land so open to
oyster culture under the provisions of this Act to applicants who
shall be residents of Maryland, in the order of their applications as
received and opened by said Commissioners.

SECTION 103. Any person who may desire to plant and culti-
vate oysters in the area hereinbefore designated shall file with the
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners ‘an application substantially in
the form ‘prescribed in Section 1o1 of this Act. The applicant
shall indicate plainly the location of the land he desires to lease.
The application shall be sworn to before a Justice of the Peace of
this State. A fee of five dollars shall be paid by the applicant to
the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners at the time of filing the
application, which fee shall be returned to the applicant if his ap-
plication shall be for any reason declined. }

Section 104. If such applicant be a resident of the State of
Maryland, and if no objections to the issuing of the lease asked for
in any such application be filed with the Commissioners within the
period of thirty days after such application is made, or as soon as
any objection that may have been filed to the granting of such
lease will have been finally overruled by said Commissioners, the
said Commissioners, upon payment by the applicant of a further
fee of two dollars and a half, in addition to the fee of five
dollars, which is to accompany his application, shall cause to
be entered in a book or books to be known as “The Register
of Title to Oyster Lands,” the name of the applicant, with concise
but clear description of the land applied for. A survey of such
land at the expense of the applicant shall be made by the Board be-
fore the entry, if, in its opinion, said survey is necessary to an ac-
curate description thereof. The payment of the proper fees due
for the application and the record in the register required by this
section to be kept, shall constitute between the State and the appli-
cant the relation of landlord and tenant for the term of twenty

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 121

years, from the record of the lands so applied for as aforesaid, at
the annual rentals provided in Section 98 of this Act.

SECTION 105. ‘The relation of the landlord and tenant, stated
in Section 104, shall have all the incidents attaching to that relation
as the same exists under the Jaws of Maryland, excepting only the
following particulars: First, the only remedy of the State for non-
payment of the rent of oyster lands shall be the strict enforcement
of the provisions set forth in Section 98 of this Act. Upon the
non-payment of any rent for the time therein mentioned, it shall
be the duty of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, after a
written notice of not less than ten days to the lessee, to declare the
lease vacated by stamping the word “Void” in distinct letters across
the description in the register; second, land leased under this Act
shall be used only for the purpose of planting and cultivating
oysters; third, no right shall exist to redeem or purchase any land
of the State so leased; fourth, any other modifications caused by
the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 106. The Commissioners shall at once notify the
lessee of the record in the register required by Section 104, and
the lessee shall, as soon theerafter as practicable, not exceeding thirty
days from the receipt of said notice, cause the ground designated
as leased to him to be plainly marked out by stakes, buoys or monu-
ments, under the supervision of the Commissioners. At least four
of such stakes, buoys and monuments shall have the initials of the
lessee plainly marked upon them, and such stakes, buoys or monu-
ments shall be at all times during the existence of said lease con-
tinued by the said lessee or his legal representative.

SEcTION 107. This Act is not intended to apply to any lands
owned by private persons, the bounds of which extend below low
water into or beneath the waters of this State. This Act shall not
be so construed as to apply to any creek, cove or inlet, less than one
hundred yards in width at its mouth at low tide.

SEcTION 108. Any person who has, prior to the passage of this
Act, lawfully appropriated or taken up any land in this State, for
the purpose of planting, bedding or cultivating oysters thereon, may
become a lessee of said land for the term of twenty years from the
passage of this Act, with all the incidents, including the payment

122 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

of the rents of the lease contemplated by this Act, provided such
person gives written notice to the Board of Shell Fish Commis-
sioners of his intention to become such lessee within six months
after the passage hereof. The holding of any person who may
have appropriated any such land shall become void and of no effect
in law, upon the expiration of the said period of six months from
the passage hereof, if no such notice of intention will have been
given within said period of six months.

SECTION 109. ‘The lessee of any land leased for the purpose of
planting and cultivating oysters shall have exclusive ownership of
and title to all oysters planted by him or existing on the land
leased.

SEcTION 110. No assignment or transfer of any interest ac-
quired by this Act shall be valid for any purpose if made to a non-
resident of this State. If any such assignment is attempted to be
made, all interest of the grantor, or assignor, shall revert to the
State as if no lease had ever been made. If any assignment of any
interest created by this Act is attempted to be made to any corpora-
tion or joint stock company, all the interest of the grantor or as-
signor shall revert to the State as if no lease had ever been made.
If any assignment of any interest created by this Act is attempted
to be made to any person in such a way that the assignee shall be-
come the holder of more than ten acres, or one hundred acres, as
the case may be, according to the location of land leased under this
Act, all interest of the grantor or assignor, in case of such an as-
signment, shall revert to the State as 1f no lease had been made.

SECTION 111. It shall be lawful for any tonger, between the
15th day of April and the 15th day of May in any year to take
oysters from such natural beds or bars in the tonging districts of
the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, as the Commission may
mark out for that purpose, and under such regulations as said
Commission may from time to time prescribe; provided, however,
that said oysters may be sold only for the purpose now permitted
ander existing laws of Maryland, during the season of the year
above mentioned; and in addition thereto, to persons engaged in
the industry of planting and cultivating oysters within the area
designated by this Act, the same to be delivered only upon lands
which may have been leased under the provisions of this Act for
such purposes of planting or cultivating. :

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 123

SEcTION 112. It shall not be necessary for any holder of oyster
land under this Act to take out any license for dredging, scraping
or tonging oysters on any land so held by him, and oysters on such
land may be taken in any manner and at such times as may be de-
sired by the holder of such land as allowed by the existing laws of
this State.

SECTION 113. Any person who shall wilfully and without au-
thority take or remove oysters from any land leased under the pro-
visions of this Act, or shall wilfully injure or interfere with the
oysters of such land in any manner, or injure the oysters thereupon
situated, or remove, alter or interfere with the stakes, buoys or
monuments marking the same, shall, upon conviction thereof, for
the first offense, be sentenced to imprisonment in jail or in the peni-
tentiary, in the discretion of the Court, for riot less than three
months and not more than two years, and for the second, or any
subsequent offense, be sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary
for not less than two years and not more than five years.

SECTION 114. Any person who shall work a dredge, scrape or
pair of tongs, or any other implement for the taking of oysters upon
any land leased under the provisions of this Act without the con-
sent of the lessee or owner, or who shall, while upon or sailing over
any such ground or bed, cast, haul or have overboard any such
dredge, scrape or pair of tongs, or other implement for the taking
of oysters, under any pretense or for any purpose whatever, with-
out the consent of such lessee or owner, upon conviction thereof,
shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than fifty dollars, nor
more than two hundred and fifty dollars, or in the discretion of the
Court, be imprisoned in jail, or in the penitentiary for not less than
three months, nor more than one year, or shall be both so fined and
imprisoned, and for the second, or any subsequent offense, shall be
sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than two
years nor more than five years.

SECTION 115. Any person who shall make his boat fast to a
State buoy, or remove the same, or in any manner interfere there-
with, the same shall, in the discretion of the Court, upon con-
viction thereof, be sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of not
less than one year or more than two years.

124 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

SEcTION 116. In addition to other penalties herein provided,
any person convicted of a violation of this Act under either of the
three preceding sections, shall be, and is hereby, denied the right to
take out any license to dredge, scrape or tong for oysters in any
waters of this State, for the period of three years after said con-
viction.

SECTION 117. It shall be the duty of all officers and members
of the State Fishery Force to arrest persons violating this Act, and
to patrol such waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as
they may be directed by the Board of Public Works to patrol, for
the purpose of preventing violations of this Act.

SECTION 118. The revenues arising from the operation of this
Act shall be applied in the following manner: First, to the pay-
ment of all salaries, expenses, surveys, outlays and disbursements
authorized by this Act; second, the balance, if any, to be paid at
the end of each year into the Treasury of the State, leaving,
however, a balance of Ten Thousand Dollars with the Board of
Shell Fish Commissioners, to be applied to the current expenses of
its office for the ensuing year. All moneys so paid as aforesaid
into the Treasury of the State shall be placed to the credit of a
special fund, called the “Special Road Fund.”

SeEcTION 119. The Board of Shell Fish Commissioners shall
annually prepare and publish in pamphlet form a full report of its
transactions during the year prior thereto, as well as a statement of
the operations of this Act, and an account of the receipts and dis-
bursements hereunder. The said report shall also contain a de-
tailed statement of the lands leased under this Act, with the names
of the lessees. The said Commissioners shall also in its report
make such recommendations as it may deem proper concerning fur-
ther legislation or changes in the present oyster laws, and shall
present the said report to the General Assembly of Maryland.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That this Act shall take effect from
the date of its passage, and all laws of Maryland inconsistent with
this Act shall be, and the same are hereby repealed.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 125

.

OPINIONS RENDERED BY HON. THOMAS H. ROBIN-
SON, COUNSEL TO THE BOARD OF SHELL
FISH COMMISSIONERS.

1. Jurisdiction.

Chapter 711 of the Acts of 1906 has no application to the natural
oyster beds and bars located in the waters of the State of Maryland,
except to provide for their survey and delineation upon maps and
charts of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey of the
largest scale and providing a copy for each of the counties of this
State in the waters of which natural beds, bars and rocks are
located as set forth with great detail in said Act and subject to the
right of appeal as therein provided, the action of the Shell Fish
Commission shall be conclusive evidence of the boundaries of all
natural oyster beds, bars and rocks. All the areas of the Chesa-
peake Bay and its tributaries and the waters of the State within
the State of Maryland not shown in said survey to be natural
oyster beds, bars or rocks shall be construed in all the courts of the
State to be barren bottoms, and it is with this part of the land
owned by the State and covered with water that the Act above re-
ferred to applies as well as to land lawfully appropriated or taken
up for the purpose of planting, bedding or cultivating oysters
thereon as provided in Section 108 of the Act.

2. Private Ownership and Riparian Rights.

One of the questions of considerable interest to land owners bor-
dering on the waters of the State is as to the extent of their rights
on the shore. Section 107 of this Act provides that it is not in-
tended to apply to any lands owned by private persons the bounds
of which extend below low water into and beneath the waters of
the State, it being the intention of the Act to protect the rights of
land owners under old grants from the State prior to 1862 who
may have acquired the right from the State to any land covered
by navigable water. It is believed that the extent of this private
ownership is very small, but whenever it does exist and the title
can be established, the rights of the owner are exempt from the
operation of this Bill to the extent of their holdings. Chapter 129

126 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

of the Acts of 1862 expressly prohibits the right to issue any
patent to land covered by navigable water, and the rights of land
owners bordering on the shore of the navigable waters of the State,
with the possible exception above referred to, extend to high-water
mark and the land covered by water within the ebb and flow of tide
to high-water mark belongs to the State and is the subject of lease
under the provisions of this Act.

Another question of interest akin to this 1s where a tract of land
lies adjacent or contiguous to a navigable river or water, as to the
interest of the owner of the land in any change in the shore line,
and the rule adopted by the Commission which is in conformity
with the decision of the Courts is that any increase of soil gained
from the sea either by alluvion, the washing up of sand and earth
so as in time to make terra firma, or by dereliction, as where the
sea shrinks back below the usual water mark, in these cases it is
held that if this gain be little and little by small and imperceptible
degrees it shall go to the owner of the land adjoining, and that the
ownership of land may be lost by erosion or submergence, the one
consisting of the gradual eating away of the soil by the operation
of currents and tides and the other by its disappearance under the
water and the formation of a navigable body over it, and the
reason for the rule allowing the owner of the land to claim all that
is acquired by aluvion or dereliction is to make up for the possible
losses he may sustain by the sea encroaching upon his holdings.
In one case brought to the attention of the Commission a grant of
2,000 acres of land under a patent issued in 1867 was found by a
recent survey to contain only 1,850 acres, the waters on the shore
of this property having by imperceptible degrees encroached on the
owners during that long period until one hundred and fifty acres of
land was apparently under the navigable waters of the State, and it
was held that the owners’ rights could not extend below high-water
mark as it now exists.

Ill.

RIGHT OF LOTAHOLDERS: TOULAKR EE
PLAN TEDUOYSTERS:

The rights granted by Section 112 of the Acts of 1906 to lessees
of ground for the purposes of oyster culture, is a subject about
which there is such wide difference of opinion and one of such

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 127

vital importance to the success of the Law in developing an industry
in oyster culture on the barren bottoms of the State, that the
Commission, through its counsel, Thomas H. Robinson, secured
the opinion of the Attorney-General, Hon. Isaac Lobe Straus, with
reference to it. That it is the opinion of the Attorney-General that
the law gives to lot holders the right to take planted oysters from
the lots leased by them at any time and in any manner they may
desire is seen by the extracts from the correspondence on the sub-
ject, printed herewith.

OFFICES OF
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL,

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
January 23, 1909.
Hon. THomas H. Rosinson,
Counselor at Law,
Belair, Harford County, Md.
DEAR SENATOR ROBINSON:

a eis ce) S\¢ a) @)v)'s, e000) #6 ue 0) ule «ee es) s) ee, «\s © 5 = 0 e066) = o/e)s 666s ee 60 wie #066) 6 ele 0 0 s\ 0c 0) 8 0 @.

epeliatial mise) s)'a ie ef sm eke fells’ sje) te) /e) 0s) ellelie (os im ‘,/'e)(¢\e! lei{0l/|.6 ehie, (6)'6 yee (9/00) 076\'0 6 (6 oF 0,0, (© a0, oe, @ (0) 0//\6..9)\¢) 0 (8, o

Under Section 112 of the acts of 1906, I consider that the lessees of lots leased
by the State under the provisions of the Act have the right to take up oysters at
such times and in any manner they see fit. This would certainly include the
means specified in your opinion, as stated in your letter to me.

This Act for the cultivation of oysters, being designed both for the promotion
of greater industry and for the increase of the revenues of the State ought to
be liberally and constructively, and not technically, and obstructively, inter-
preted and enforced, so as to effectuate as fully as possible the important ends
it has in view.

I announced this view and construction of the statute at the Cabinet Meeting
on Wednesday last at the Governor’s office, to the State officials, including the
members of the Shell Fish Commission, and, upon special recommendation by
me, the Governor directed the Commander of the State Fishery Force to enforce
the Act accordingly.

Sie) eo Kelle 6) ele \siajio.e i.e! es als) 6@ «0 @.0) 6/0 aie.) 6s em, ele) = = \0 0) ei.e\ a 0/12 «:e)'e «

Very truly yours,
(Signed) Isaac LOBE STRAUS,
Attorney-General.

The portion of the letter written by Mr. Robinson, to which the
Attorney-General makes reference in the above opinion, is as fol-
lows:

“T have given the opinion, some time since, that under Section 112 of Chapter
711 of the Acts of 1906, when construed in connection with the other section
that creates the relation of landlord and tenant, that the lessee had the right to
take oysters in any manner he desires, whether with dredge or tongs, and tg
use any power for the purpose of working their dredges.”

128 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

IV.

AN ACT SETTING ASIDE CLAM ROCKS IN
POCOMOKE SOUND.

(Approved April 6th; 1908).

AN ACT to prescribe additional duties to be performed by the
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, to the duties already pre-
scribed to them by Chapter 711, of the Acts of the General
Assembly of Maryland of 1906.

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, that it shall be the duty of the Board of Shell Fish Commis-
sioners, as soon after the passage of this Act as practicable to have
laid out, surveyed, and designated on charts provided for such pur-
pose, Grant Rock, Ware Rock, and Flat Rock, being clam rocks
located in the waters of Pocomoke Sound, in Somerset County and
State of Maryland, and shall cause to be marked and defined as ac-
curately as practicable the limits and boundaries of each of the
above named rocks, and they shall take true and accurate notes of
said survey and make the report and perform all other duties. con-
nected with said survey as said duties are prescribed by Chapter
711 of the Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland of 1906, per-
taining to natural oyster beds and bars.

SEcTION 2. And be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, that after said rocks shall have been surveyed, as pro-
vided in Section 1 of this Act, no part of them shall be leased to
any person or persons for the purpose of planting, bedding or cul-
tivating oysters therein, but they shall be reserved to the public in
the State of Maryland for the sole purpose of taking clams there-
from and shall be treated in every particular as are the natural
oyster beds or bars which have been or shall be surveyed by the
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, under Chapter 711 of the
Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland of 1906.

SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, that this Act shall take
effect from the date of its passage.

fa.

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 129

Mi

ACT REPEALING CALVERT COUNTY
CULTIVATION LAW.

(Approved April 8th, 1908).
AN ACT to repeal Chapter 367 of the Acts of 1906.

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, that Chapter 367 of the Acts of the General Assembly of
Maryland, passed at the session of 1906, entitled “An Act to repeal
and re-enact with amendments, Section 46 of Article 72 of the
Code of Public General Laws, title ‘Oysters,’ as amended by the
Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland of 1904, Chapter 598,”
so far as the same applies to the Patuxent River, be and the same
is hereby repealed. vi

SEcTION 2. And be it enacted that this Act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

VI.

AN ACT INCREASING THE TAX UPON OYSTERS SOLD
WITHIN THE STATE AND CREATING A NATURAL
OYSTER: BED RESHELLING FUND.

Approved April 13th, 1910).
CHAPTER 735.

AN ACT to increase the productivity of the natural oyster beds or
bars of this State, and for that purpose to repeal Section 69
of Article 72 of the Code of Public General Laws, and to re-
enact said section with amendments; and to add to said Article
a new section to come in after Section 69, and to be known as
Section 69A, and to add five other new sections to said Article,
to come in after Section 119, and to be known as Sections 120,
I2I, 122, 123 and 124, respectively.

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Article 72 of the Code of Public General Laws, title
“Oysters,” be and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section
69 of said Article and re-enacting the same with amendments by add-

130 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

ing thereto a new section, to be known as Section 69A, to come in
after said Section 69 as re-enacted, and by adding thereto five other
new sections, to come in after Section 119, and to be numbered Sec-
tions 120, I21, 122, 123 and 124, respectively; and that said Sec-
tion 69 as re-enacted and said new Sections 69A, 120, 121, 122, 123
and 124 shall read as follows:

SEcTION 69. It shall be the duty of the Commander of the
State Fishery Force, at the commencement of or during the oyster
season in each year, to appoint from the counties producing oysters
for packing purposes in the State, not exceeding twenty special in-
spectors, to be appointed as follows: Two each from Anne Arundel,
St. Mary’s, Talbot and Wicomico Counties; three each from Dor-
chester, Somerset and Queen Anne’s Counties, and one each from
Kent, Calvert and Charles Counties, at a salary of forty-five dol-
lars per month, during the oyster season, and they shall be stationed
at such places as in the judgment of the Commander of the State
Fishery Force their services may be needed. Before assuming the
duties of their offices the said special inspectors shall take an oath,
to be administered by said Commander, to diligently and faithfully
discharge the duties of their said offices. The said special in-
spectors shall inspect all oysters in the district to which he is as-
signed; upon the inspection of any such oysters each special in-
spector shall make a certificate of the number of bushels in triplicate,
one of which shall be given to the purchaser; one to the seller and
the other daily to the general measurer and inspector of the dis-
trict where such inspection occurred. A charge of two cents per
bushel is hereby levied, one-half of which is to help defray the ex-
pense of such inspection, and the other expenses of the State Fish-
ery Force, and the other half of which is to be expended in reshell-
ing and otherwise cultivating and improving the natural ovster beds
and bars in the waters of the State, to be chareed equally to the
buyer and seller, but to be paid weekly to the Comptroller of the
State Treasury, or his agent, by the buvers; the certificate given
the General Measurer and Inspector shall be by him mailed weekly
to the Comptroller, or his agent, and in case the amounts of money
shown to be due, not paid in one week thereafter to the Comptroller.
or his agent, which is hereby required to be done, the properties of
the parties so indebted may be levied on and sold by the said
Comptroller, or his agent, as in cases of taxes in default, without

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 131

other process of law. The tax of two cents per bushel hereby
levied is also made a charge on oysters sold by commission mer-
chants and others selling by less than the cargo, and also a tax of
six cents per barrel, containing not more than three bushels; on
oysters in bag, a tax of four cents per bag containing not more
than two bushels, and all transportation companies carrying oysters
in the shell consigned to Baltimore shall furnish to the oyster in-
spector or collector of oyster tax a copy of his manifest, showing
the number of bushels on board on arrival of steamer, and to
whom consigned, and the special inspectors are charged with the
duty of seeing that proper returns are made for the purpose of
this Act, by such commission merchants or retailers; and in the
performance of their duty the said special inspectors are authorized
and directed to visit the places where oysters less than cargoes are
sold and get from such sellers a statement, under oath, as to the
number of bushels sold from time to time and to return to the
general measurers and inspectors a certificate thereof, to be for-
warded to the Comptroller, as is required in the case of the certifi-
cates for cargoes, and the payments of the amounts so found to be
due shall be similarly enforced. All such special inspectors may
be removed at any time by the Commander for neglect or mal-
feasance in office, and said Commander shall report to the Gov-
ernor any neglect of a general measurer or inspector. The Com-
mander of the State Fishery Force shall furnish to each of said
special inspectors certificates in book form, supplied with carbon
paper, so that each of said triplicate certificates shall be exactly the
same. The form of the certificate shall be as follows:

Pee che Risen en Sree ame EOw
I hereby certify that I have this day inspected for Captain
Se ORE a PochaOier <4)... 42-42.) arcargo. Of, oysters: sold
AAS A ip Ree ae ait Vand found. the sante-to contain. 2.2/5... .
bushels of merchantable oysters.
SEEN TEE CU it ne NaN 6 Es at i eee lian aa EN

Section 69A. The Comptroller of the State Treasury shall
pass one-half of the amounts paid in by the buyers, as provided in
Section 69, to the credit of a fund to be known as a “Natural
Oyster Bed Reshelling Fund.”

132 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners.

SEcTION 120. It shall be the duty of the Board of Shell Fish
Commissioners to take such measures as in their judgment shall
seem best calculated to increase the productivity of the natural
oyster beds or bars of the State, and the expense of so doing shall
be paid out of the Natural Oyster Bed Reshelling Fund, upon re-
quisition made by the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, en-
dorsed by the Comptroller of the State.

SecTION 121. For the purpose of performing the duties im-
posed upon the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, by Section 120,
they shall employ a superintendent of natural oyster beds, at a sal-
ary of $100.00 per month, beginning April 1st and ending Septem-
ber 30th, payable monthly, and it shall be the duty of such super-
intendent, under the direction of the Board of Shell Fish Commis-
sioners, to give personal supervision to the work of reshelling the
natural oyster beds, done by the order of the Board of Shell Fish
Commissioners.

SecTIon 122. That the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners
shall purchase from the lowest responsible bidder, shells at such
places and in such quantities as they may need for the purpose of
reshelling the natural beds, and in inviting proposals for such shells
they may prescribe that the shells shall be delivered to the superin-
tendent of natural beds, or to his order, at some convenient place
for the shipment of the said shells, or they may require that the
said shells be delivered by the sellers thereof on such particular
natural bed or beds as the Commission may then be engaged in re-
shelling, and may require the seller of such shells to distribute them
under the direction and control of the superintendent of natural
beds. If they shall buy such shells to be delivered otherwise than
on the natural beds the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners shall
have the power to cause the said shells to be taken from the place
at which they are delivered to the said superintendent of natural
beds to the said natural beds, and to cause the said shells to be
there, under the superintendent, or the superintendent of natural
oyster beds, properly distributed on the bed or beds, which the
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners may be engaged in reshelling.

SECTION 123. For the purpose of discharging the duties im-
posed upon them by this Act, the Board of Shell Fish Commis-
sioners shall have the same control and direction and be to the same

Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 133

extent over the State Fishery Force, as is given to the said Board
of Shell Fish Commissioners by Section 97 of this article, for the
purpose of performing the duties imposed upon the Board of Shell
Fish Commissioners by Chapter 711 of the Acts of 1906.

SECTION 124. The said Board of Shell Fish Commissioners
shall in no case contract any obligation or incur any indebtedness in
excess of money at the time of the incurring of said obligation or
contracting of said debt, in the State Treasury to the credit of the
Natural Oyster Bed Reshelling Fund.

SEcTION 2. And be it enacted, That this Act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

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